Betamimetics for inhibiting preterm labour.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004 Oct 18CD
BACKGROUND
Preterm birth is a major contributor to perinatal mortality and morbidity worldwide. Tocolytic agents are drugs used to inhibit uterine contractions. The most widely used tocolytic agents are betamimetics especially in resource-poor countries.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the effects of betamimetics given to women with preterm labour.
SEARCH STRATEGY
We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register (May 2003) without language restrictions.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials of betamimetics, administered by any route or any dose, in the treatment of women in preterm labour where betamimetics are compared with other betamimetics, placebo or no treatment.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two reviewers evaluated independently methodological quality and extracted the data. We sought additional information to enable assessment of methodology and conduct intention-to-treat analyses. We present the results using the relative risk for categorical data and the weighted mean difference for continuous data.
MAIN RESULTS
Eleven randomised controlled trials, involving 1332 women, compared betamimetics with placebo. Betamimetics decreased the number of women in preterm labour giving birth within 48 hours (relative risk (RR) 0.63; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.53 to 0.75) but there was no decrease in the number of births within seven days after carrying out a sensitivity analysis of studies with adequate allocation of concealment. No benefit was demonstrated for betamimetics on perinatal death (RR 0.84; 95% CI 0.46 to 1.55, 7 trials, n = 1332), or neonatal death (RR 1.00; 95% CI 0.48 to 2.09, 5 trials, n = 1174). No significant effect was demonstrated for respiratory distress syndrome (RR 0.87; 95% CI 0.71 to 1.08, 8 trials, n = 1239). A few trials reported the following outcomes, with no difference detected: cerebral palsy, infant death and necrotizing enterocolitis. Betamimetics were significantly associated with the following: withdrawal from treatment due to adverse effects; chest pain; dyspnoea; tachycardia; palpitation; tremor; headaches; hypokalemia; hyperglycemia; nausea/vomiting; and nasal stuffiness; and fetal tachycardia. Other betamimetics were compared with ritodrine in five trials (n = 948). Trials were small, varied and of insufficient quality to delineate any consistent patterns of effect.
REVIEWERS' CONCLUSIONS
Betamimetics help to delay delivery for women transferred to tertiary care or completed a course of antenatal corticosteroids. However, multiple adverse effects must be considered. The data are too few to support the use of any particular betamimetics.
