Adverse drug reactions to tocolytic treatment for preterm labour: Prospective cohort study

R. de Heus*, B.W. Mol, J.J.H.M. Erwich, H.P. van Geijn, W.J. Gyselaers, M Hanssens, L. Härmark, C.D. Holsbeke, J.J. Duvekot, A.F.A.M. Schobben, H. Wolf, G.H.A. Visser

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

72 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the incidence of serious maternal complications after the use of various tocolytic drugs for the treatment of preterm labour in routine clinical situations. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting 28 hospitals in the Netherlands and Belgium. Participants 1920 consecutive women treated with tocolytics for threatened preterm labour. Main outcome measures Maternal adverse events (those suspected of being causally related to treatment were considered adverse drug reactions) leading to cessation of treatment. Results An independent panel evaluated the recorded adverse events, without knowledge of the type of tocolytic used. Of the 1920 women treated with tocolytics, 1327 received a single course of treatment (69.1%), 282 sequential courses (14.7%), and 311 combined courses (16.2%). Adverse drug reactions were categorised as serious or mild in 14 cases each. The overall incidence of serious adverse drug reaction was 0.7%. Compared with atosiban, the relative risk of an adverse drug reaction for single treatment with a (3 adrenoceptor agonist was 22.0 (95% confidence interval 3.6 to 138.0) and for single treatment with a calcium antagonist was 12 (1.9 to 69). Multiple drugtocolysis led to five serious adverse drug reactions (1.6%). Multiple gestation, preterm rupture of membranes, and comorbidity were not independent risk factors for adverse drug reactions. Conclusions The use of (3 adrenoceptor agonists or multiple tocolytics for preventing preterm birth is associated with a high incidence of serious adverse drug reactions. Indometacin and atosiban were the only drugs not associated with serious adverse drug reactions. A direct comparison of the effectiveness of nifedipine and atosiban in postponing preterm delivery is needed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)b744
Number of pages1
JournalBMJ (Online)
Volume338
Issue number7697
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28 Mar 2009

Keywords

  • Econometric and Statistical Methods: General
  • Epidemiology
  • Farmacie(FARM)
  • Geneeskunde(GENK)
  • Medical sciences
  • Bescherming en bevordering van de menselijke gezondheid
  • Biomedische technologie en medicijnen
  • Ziekenhuisstructuur en organisatie van de gezondheidszorg
  • Public Health
  • Pharmacology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Adverse drug reactions to tocolytic treatment for preterm labour: Prospective cohort study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this