A comparison of nifedipine and ritodrine in the management of preterm labor

Abstract

We compared the efficacy of nifedipine and ritodrine in the treatment of preterm labor. A total of 135 cases diagnosed to have preterm labor were retrospectively evaluated. Of all the cases 73 and 62 were given nifedipine and ritodrine, respectively. The main outcome measure was the period of delay in delivery. The number of delivered patients within 48 hours were 14 (19.2%) and 23 (37.1%) in patients receiving nifedipine and ritodrine, respectively (p=0.032). Twenty one cases (28.8%) in the nifedipine group and 30 cases (48.4%) in the ritodrine group delivered within 1 week (p=0.022). Thirty cases (41.1%) in the nifedipine group and 37 cases (59.7%) in the ritodrine group delivered before 35 weeks of gestation (p=0.039). There were significantly lower maternal side effects in the nifedipine group than in the ritodrine group. The number of newborns transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit was significantly lower in the nifedipine group when compared to the ritodrine group (p<.05). Nifedipin treatment, when compared to ritodrine, is more effective in delaying labor in the management of preterm labor. On the basis of the results of the present study we conclude that use of nifedipine is more effective in the treatment of preterm labor when compared to ritodrine treatment.