Peripartum heart failure associated with prolonged tocolytic therapy
Article Abstract:
Treatment with terbutaline or other tocolytic drugs may cause heart failure in pregnant women or women who have just given birth. Tocolytic drugs are used to inhibit uterine contractions in pregnant women suffering from premature labor. Among 15 women who developed heart failure between four weeks preceding and eight weeks after giving birth, four had been treated with terbutaline over a 4- to 11-week period and 11 had not been treated with terbutaline or any other tocolytic drug. All of the women treated with terbutaline recovered within an average of 42 weeks, but only seven of the women not treated with terbutaline had recovered at 63 weeks. Short-term treatment with tocolytic drugs can cause complications such as collection of fluid in the lungs and chest pain. These drugs may affect different aspects of the cardiovascular system.
Publication Name: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0002-9378
Year: 1993
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Contractile reserve in patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy and recovered left ventricular function
Article Abstract:
Women who have experienced peripartum cardiomyopathy and whose left ventricular size and performance have recovered may still have a reduced contractile reserve. Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare complication of pregnancy involving heart failure in the first half or last month of pregnancy. Researchers measured contractile reserve with a dobutamine challenge test on seven women who had recovered from peripartum cardiomyopathy. Recovered women had normal starting heart rates, blood pressures, ventricular size and left ventricular function. After dobutamine challenge, however, contractile reserve was decreased.
Publication Name: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0002-9378
Year: 1997
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Effect of chronic tocolytic therapy on maternal ventricular function in pregnant rabbits
Article Abstract:
Ongoing therapy to suppress labor contractions may adversely affect heart function. Because of reports of heart complications in women given beta-mimetic agents such as terbutaline to suppress contractions, researchers developed an animal model. A pump was implanted in pregnant rabbits that delivered either terbutaline or plain saline continuously. The animals were killed after a week and heart function assessed. Heart muscle function was impaired in five of seven of the terbutaline-treated rabbits but only one of the rabbits infused with saline.
Publication Name: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0002-9378
Year: 1996
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: Plasma exchange in polyneuropathy associated with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. 3,4-Diaminopyridine in the treatment of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome
- Abstracts: Flaviviruses and bone marrow failure. Acquired Aplastic Anemia. Aplastic anemia and viral hepatitis: non-A, non-B, non-C?
- Abstracts: Doctors in groups may lose control with managed care - survey. Hospitals look to bringing in physician groups
- Abstracts: Bolster your bylaws. Buying smart: you'll have to invest in new technology to stay competitive
- Abstracts: Where are your discounts? Consumer groups want probe of managed care merger. Bush administration stance on self-insurance raises concerns