Abstract
Creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and amylase levels of preterm infants following long-term tocolysis in pregnant women are limited. The objective of this study was to determine if the tocolytic therapy affects CK, LDH, and amylase levels in the umbilical blood. This study included 215 preterm infants born to women treated with and without ritodrine hydrochloride. CK, LDH, and amylase levels in the umbilical blood at delivery were determined. Infants were divided according to the ritodrine tocolysis, as follows: Group A (n = 91), not exposed to ritodrine; Group B (n = 44), IV ritodrine for <1 week; Group C (n = 80), IV ritodrine for ≥1 week. The CK concentration in cord blood of Group C (198.8 ± 14.2 IU/L) was significantly higher in comparison with Group A (155.0 ± 7.3 IU/L, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in LDH and amylase levels in the three groups. The CK significantly correlated with gestational age (r = 0.42, P < 0.01) and birth weight (r = 0.38, P < 0.01). LDH and amylase levels did not change with gestational age nor birth weight. In conclusion, long-term ritodrine tocolysis leads to increased umbilical blood CK level.
Highlights
The incidence of preterm birth has increased, despite rapid advances in maternal-fetal medicine
The aim of this study is to determine if the tocolytic therapy affects creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and amylase levels in the umbilical blood of preterm infants
There was no significant difference in LDH and amylase levels in the three groups
Summary
The incidence of preterm birth has increased, despite rapid advances in maternal-fetal medicine. The betaadrenergic agent ritodrine hydrochloride is commonly used for the treatment of preterm labor in Japan. Asymptomatic increases in blood creatine kinase (CK) and amylase have been reported in pregnant women treated with tocolytic agents [2,3,4,5]. Ritodrine hydrochloride crosses the placenta freely [6], the data concerning escape enzyme, such as CK, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and amylase levels of preterm infants following long-term ritodrine tocolysis in pregnant women are limited. We hypothesized that ritodrine hydrochloride would affect the preterm fetuses, thereby adversely affecting escape enzyme levels. The aim of this study is to determine if the tocolytic therapy affects CK, LDH, and amylase levels in the umbilical blood of preterm infants
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