INHIBITION OF HUMAN PREMATURE LABOR BY INDOMETHACIN

Abstract

Clinical research was conducted into the inhibitory effect of indomethacin or premature labor. 50 patients with clinical evidence of premature labor were treated with 100 mg of indomethacin in suppository form followed by 25 mg orally administered indomethacin every 6 hours up to 24 hours after uterine contractions ceased. Treatment was reinstituted if contractions were reactivated. The indomethacin had a marked effect on the uterine contractions stopping them completely in 40 patients. The average delay achieved in delivery was 7 weeks. The total dose of indomethacin needed was between 200 and 1100 mg. 13 of the patients needed more than 1 course of treatment because contractions reappeared after 2 weeks intermission. 38 mature infants and only 12 premature infants resulted from this study. There were 4 neonatal deaths and 1 stillbirth. None of the women experienced changes in blood pressure pulse or fetal heart tones during treatment. Some minor side effects were experienced. The results from this study show that indomethacin had a definite effect on inhibiting uterine contractions during premature labor probably by inhibiting either the synthesis or the release of prostaglandin.