Magnesium Sulfate as a Second-Line Tocolytic Agent for Preterm Labor: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Kyushu Island
2011

Magnesium Sulfate for Preterm Labor

Sample size: 33 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Kawagoe Yasuyuki, Sameshima Hiroshi, Ikenoue Tsuyomu, Yasuhi Ichiro, Kawarabayashi Tatsuhiko

Primary Institution: University of Miyazaki

Hypothesis

Adding magnesium sulfate to treatment would be superior to using magnesium sulfate alone for the inhibition of uterine contractions.

Conclusion

The combination therapy significantly reduced uterine contractions compared to magnesium alone.

Supporting Evidence

  • 90% of women prolonged their pregnancy for more than 48 hours after magnesium sulfate infusion.
  • Combination therapy was effective in 95% of cases compared to 50% for magnesium alone.
  • The combination treatment is 15-fold more effective in inhibiting uterine contractions than magnesium alone.

Takeaway

This study found that using magnesium sulfate with another drug helps stop contractions better than using magnesium alone.

Methodology

A multi-institutional, simple 2-arm randomized controlled trial was performed with women at 22 to 34 weeks of gestation.

Potential Biases

Uneven allocation due to incomplete block randomization.

Limitations

The study was underpowered with only 33 participants instead of the required 84.

Participant Demographics

Women aged 22 to 34 weeks of gestation with singleton or dichorionic twin pregnancies.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.06

Confidence Interval

0.006 to 0.54

Statistical Significance

p<0.01

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1155/2011/965060

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