Treatment of normotensive and hypertensive patients with preterm labor using oral nifedipine, a calcium antagonist.

The calcium antagonist nifedipine was tried on 28 patients with preterm labor. In eight patients the disorder was also accompanied by hypertension. In 80% of the patients delivery could be postponed for more than 3 days during which time corticosteroids were given to accelerate fetal lung maturation. On average, delivery occurred 12 days after start of treatment (delay beyond 36 weeks gestation not being included in the calculations). All patients with increased blood pressure were normotensive within 12 h of the start of treatment. There were no serious maternal or fetal side effects and no perinatal deaths. At 2 and 6 months after delivery all women were normotensive and all children were alive and well.