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Oxytocin Antagonists: Clinical and Scientific Considerations
Author(s) -
Thornton Steven,
Vatish Manu,
Slater Donna
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
experimental physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1469-445X
pISSN - 0958-0670
DOI - 10.1113/eph8602186
Subject(s) - oxytocin , vasopressin , medicine , tocolytic agent , oxytocin receptor , vasopressin antagonists , preterm labour , clinical trial , antagonist , pregnancy , obstetrics , intensive care medicine , preterm labor , receptor , fetus , gestation , biology , genetics
Preterm delivery is the largest cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity, yet the treatment of preterm labour has not been demonstrated to improve outcome. The reasons are numerous and complex, but they include a failure to understand the mechanism(s) of preterm labour, the multitude of different causes, the difficulty in diagnosis and the problems of outcome measurement in clinical trials. Recently, an oxytocin antagonist (atosiban) has been introduced into clinical practice in Europe. Although it may be an effective tocolytic, a beneficial effect on perinatal outcome has not been demonstrated. Atosiban has an effect at both oxytocin and vasopressin (V 1a ) receptors, which (assuming efficacy) raises the question as to whether oxytocin or vasopressin V 1a antagonism is required for tocolysis. This review examines the rationale for tocolysis in preterm labour, the evidence for administration of atosiban and the role for oxytocin, vasopressin and their receptors in the onset of labour.