Premium
Feto‐Maternal Concentrations of Diazepam and N ‐Demethyldiazepam after Intra‐amniotic Diazepam Injection
Author(s) -
Erkkola Risto,
Kanto Jussi,
Kangas Lauri,
Piiroinen Olli
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1002/j.1879-3479.1976.tb00598.x
Subject(s) - diazepam , medicine , hysterotomy , amniotic fluid , pregnancy , fetus , intramuscular injection , abortion , anesthesia , biology , genetics
Ten milligrams of diazepam were injected intra‐amniotically in 8 mothers prior to therapeutic abortion by hysterotomy. Duration of pregnancy varied between 12 and 19 weeks. The diazepam concentrations in the maternal plasma were comparable to those found after the same intramuscular diazepam dose to the mother. The concentration of diazepam in the amniotic fluid 12 to 18 hours after the injection was no longer significantly higher than in the maternal plasma. The concentrations of diazepam in the fetal plasma, liver and brain were comparable to the concentrations resulting from a 10 mg intramuscular diazepam dose to the mother about 2 hours before legal abortion. The feto‐maternal ratio of diazepam was of same magnitude as after the intramuscular application to the mother. The results indicate that the disappearance of diazepam from the amniotic fluid in this stage of pregnancy occurs extraplacentally, through the membranes into the uterine circulation. In the treatment of a fetus with drugs having properties similar to diazepam, intra‐amniotic administration is no better than intramuscular administration to the mother.