Effect of nifedipine with and without sildenafil citrate for the management of preterm labor in pregnant women: A randomized clinical trial

Preterm labor is one of the main causes of neonatal mortality and its treatment is still challenging.

The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of nifedipine (Nif) with and without sildenafil citrate (SC) for the treatment of preterm labor in pregnant women.

In this clinical trial study, 126 pregnant women referred to the Fatemieh hospital, Hamadan, Iran with a complaint of preterm labor were evaluated. Participants were randomly divided into 2 groups of Nif 20 mg orally (single dose), then 10 mg every 6-hr, and at the same time vaginal SC 25 mg every 8 hr (Nif + SC) or Nif alone. Treatment was continued for 48-72 hr if uterine contractions did not resolve in both groups. Delivery rates at the time of hospitalization and neonatal outcome were compared between the 2 groups.

No statistically significant difference was observed between the 2 study groups in terms of mean age, gestational age, body mass index, and parity. 76.2% of Nif + SC participants in the first 72 hr of hospitalization and 57.2% of Nif participants remained without delivery (p = 0.02). The neonatal hospitalization rate of the Nif + SC group in the neonatal intensive care unit was 25.4% and in the Nif group was 42.9% (p = 0.03).

Nif with SC is superior to Nif alone in women at risk of preterm labor due to increasing gestational age and better neonatal outcomes.