Inhibition of Prostaglandin‐induced Uterine Activity by Nifedipine

Abstract

The effects of the calcium antagonist, nifedipine, on uterine activity induced by prostaglandins F,, (PGFZa) and E, (PGE,) were studied in women undergoing therapeutic midtrimester abortion, and in patients with a missed abortion in the 16th to 27th week of pregnancy. In the five subjects receiving intra-amniotic PGF,, (25 to 40 mg) for midtrimester abortion, nifedipine (30 mg orally) decreased uterine activity from a mean of 372 to 203 Montevideo Units. The effect on the intensity of the contractions was pronounced; frequency and basal tone were little affected. In patients with missed abortion, uterine contractions were induced by extra-amniotic application of PGE, (0.5 to 1.5 mg) in a viscous gel. The activity was often more irregular than that in the women receiving intra-amniotic PGF2,. However, nifedipine (30 mg orally) had a marked inhibitory effect on the uterine contractions. It is concluded that nifedipine can be used for treatment of uterine hyperactivity induced by prostaglandins. Combined treatment with p,-adrenoceptor stimulants might be considered.

Efficacy of nifedipine in the treatment of angina pectoris and chronic airways obstruction

“…Fourteen days' treatment with nifedipine may be less than the optimal period for evaluation (Cocco et al, 1979), and in the present group of patients, no anti-anginal benefit was observed in some patients, whilst others demonstrated significant subjective and objective improvement, confirming earlier work (Hollmann et al, 1975). Nifedipine has been reported as relieving spasm in visceral smooth muscle in vivo in the uterus (Ulmsten, Andersson and Forman, 1978;Andersson et al, 1979), oesophagus (Weiser et al, 1977;Blackwell, Holt and Heading, 1979), and urinary tract (Forman et al, 1978). The authors cannot explain the increase in PEFR alone following a single dose of nifedipine, without there being an effect on FEV, or FVC, and further work is required to elucidate this point.…”

7 Measures in cases of threatened prematurity

“…Calcium channel blockers such as nifedipine have been researched extensively as tocolytics [23]. Nifedipine was introduced in 1977 appear to be among the more efficacious and safer drugs that are currently being used for tocolysis [24], but the lack of good quality evidence available for these tocolytics and reports of cardiovascular side effects may limit their usefulness in the treatment of preterm labor.…”

Efficacy of nifedipine in the treatment of angina pectoris and chronic airways obstruction

“…Fourteen days' treatment with nifedipine may be less than the optimal period for evaluation (Cocco et al, 1979), and in the present group of patients, no anti-anginal benefit was observed in some patients, whilst others demonstrated significant subjective and objective improvement, confirming earlier work (Hollmann et al, 1975). Nifedipine has been reported as relieving spasm in visceral smooth muscle in vivo in the uterus (Ulmsten, Andersson and Forman, 1978;Andersson et al, 1979), oesophagus (Weiser et al, 1977;Blackwell, Holt and Heading, 1979), and urinary tract (Forman et al, 1978). The authors cannot explain the increase in PEFR alone following a single dose of nifedipine, without there being an effect on FEV, or FVC, and further work is required to elucidate this point.…”