Comparison of efficacy and safety of nifedipine versus magnesium sulfate in treatment of preterm labor

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Preterm labor with intact membrane is responsible for approximately one-third of preterm births, which account for about 70-80% of all neonatal deaths among normally formed neonates. Premature delivery is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. In this study we have compared the safety and efficacy of nifedipine and magnesium sulfate in treatment of preterm labor.
METHODS: In this study, 120 pregnant women experiencing preterm labor at 26-36 weeks gestation were randomly selected to receive either oral nifedipine or intravenous magnesium sulfate. The efficacy and side effects related to nifedipine or magnesium sulfate were recorded and all data was analyzed with SPSS software, using t student, chisquire and fisher exact tests.
RESULTS: Twenty two of 57 (38.6%) patients in the nifedipine group and 31 of 63 (49.2%) patients in the magnesium sulfate group were delivered before discharge. In 25 (43.8%) patients in the nifedipine group and 24 (38%) patients in the magnesium sulfate group, pregnancy was continued until the 34th-36th week, at which time the patients were delivered. No significant difference has been found concerning any of the following: delivery postponement, drug side effects or neonatal outcomes between nifedipine and magnesium sulfate groups (P>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Oral nifedipine may be a suitable alternative to magnesium sulfate, with the same efficacy and side effects.
KEYWORDS: Nifedipine, magnesium sulfate, preterm labor.