TO KNOW THE EFFICACY OF GLYCERYL TRINITRATE PATCH AND RITODRINE AS TOCOLYTIC AGENTS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

BACKGROUND: Preterm labour is onset of labour between 20 weeks and 37 completed weeks of gestation. Tocolytics are pharmacological agents that relax the uterine myometrium and inhibit uterine contractions leading to abolition of preterm labour. Many tocolytic drugs have been developed and used and several experimental drugs are being evaluated. Future research is needed for development of drugs with more utero-selectivity and fewer side effects. Ritodrine hydrochloride is now considered one of the most effective tocolytic drug. However, the use of nitroglycerine patch has shown comparable results and there is a need for further critical evaluation by well-planned and well monitored studies. AIM: To compare the efficacy of transdermal glyceryl trinitrate and intravenous ritodrine as tocolytics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted on patients who attended Bapuji Hospital, Chigateri Hospital and women and child hospital, attached to J.J.M. Medical College, Davangere. One hundred patients who were admitted and clinically diagnosed with preterm labour were randomised either to group 1, treated with glyceryl trinitrate patch or group II, treated with ritodrine, with fifty patients in each group. ANALYSIS: Descriptive data that included mean, Standard deviation, percentages were determined and presented for each group. Difference between two groups was compared by MannWhitney test for continuous data and chi-square test for categorical data. P Valve of 0.05 or less was considered for statistical significance. RESULTS: mean percentage prolongation of gestation with glyceryl trinitrate was 58±45.9 and with Ritodrine, it was 62±44.6. Mean absolute prolongation of gestation with glyceryl trinitrate was 3.22 weeks and with Ritodrine it was 3.18 weeks. CONCLUSION: Both glyceryl trinitrate and ritodrine were comparable in prolongation of gestation in patients in preterm labour, both in duration and in terms of success. The advantages of glyceryl trinitrate patch over ritodrine are lesser side effects and simplicity of administration and it also allows the patient to remain ambulatory.