A comparative study of transdermal nitroglycerine patch and oral nifedipine in preterm labor

• Published in: Annals of African medicine Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 31 - 36
• Main Authors: Kaur, Prabhleen, Madan, Anita, Sharma, Sujata
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01.01.2021; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer - Medknow
• Subjects: Administration, Cutaneous; Administration, Oral; Adult; Birth weight; Clinical outcomes; Clinical trials; Comparative analysis; Drug therapy; Female; Gestational Age; Health aspects; Humans; Infants (Premature); Muscle contraction; Newborn babies; Nifedipine; Nifedipine - administration & dosage; Nifedipine - adverse effects; Nifedipine - therapeutic use; Nitroglycerin - administration & dosage; Nitroglycerin - adverse effects; Nitroglycerin - therapeutic use; Obstetric Labor, Premature - drug therapy; Obstetric Labor, Premature - prevention & control; Original; Pregnancy; Pregnancy complications; Pregnancy Outcome; Premature birth; Premature Birth - prevention & control; Premature labor; Prevention; Side effects; Tocolysis - methods; Tocolytic Agents - administration & dosage; Tocolytic Agents - adverse effects; Tocolytic Agents - therapeutic use; Treatment Outcome; Uterine Contraction - drug effects; Uterine Contraction - physiology; nitroglycerine patch; preterm labor; Nifedipine
• ISSN: 1596-3519; 0975-5764
• DOI: 10.4103/aam.aam_11_20

Background: Currently, the main goal for the use of tocolytic therapy is to delay the birth so as to allow the use of corticosteroids for accelerating fetal lung maturity and maternal transfer to a tertiary care center and thereby reducing neonatal morbidity and mortality. Aims and Objectives: The aims amd objectives were to compare the safety and efficacy of transdermal nitroglycerine patch with oral nifedipine as a tocolytic agent to arrest preterm labor and prevent preterm birth. Materials and Methods: Based on the selection criteria, 50 patients were selected randomly in Group A and Group B. Group A women were given transdermal nitroglycerin patch, which delivered 10 mg Nitroglycerin (NTG) over 24 h and it was applied to the woman's abdomen followed by another patch of 10 mg after 1 h if contractions persisted. After 24 h, it was replaced by a fresh patch. Group B women were given an oral loading dose of nifedipine 20 mg followed by a similar dose if contractions persisted after 1 h. A maintenance dose of 10 mg thrice daily was given if contractions were suppressed. Patients were monitored from the time of admission to the time of discharge. Results: The mean duration of prolongation of pregnancy in Group B (3.68 ± 1.91 days) was significantly more than Group A (2.78 ± 1.39 days). Headache was seen significantly more in Group A (42%) than group B (6%). Tachycardia, hypotension, and palpitation showed no statistically significant difference between them. There was no statistically significant difference in the birth weight of the babies in both the groups. Conclusion: Nifedipine is a safe and effective drug in prolonging preterm labor and has minimal maternal and neonatal side effects.