Am J Perinatol 2009; 26(1): 013-019
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1091398
© Thieme Medical Publishers

Does Indomethacin Prevent Preterm Birth in Women with Cervical Dilatation in the Second Trimester?

Vincenzo Berghella1 , Witoon Prasertcharoensuk2 , Amanda Cotter3 , Juha Rasanen4 , Suneeta Mittal5 , Surasith Chaithongwongwatthana6 , Ricardo Gomez7 , Etaoin Kearney8 , Jorge E. Tolosa9 , Leonardo Pereira9
  • 1Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • 2Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
  • 3University of Miami, Miami, Florida
  • 4University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
  • 5All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
  • 6Chulalongkorn University Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
  • 7Sotero del Rio Hospital, Puente Alto, Chile
  • 8Coombe Women's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
  • 9Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
19 November 2008 (online)

ABSTRACT

We sought to estimate the effect of indomethacin on duration of pregnancy in women with dilated cervix between 140/7 to 256/7 weeks. Demographics, risk factors, and outcomes were compared in women 140/7 to 256/7 weeks with a dilated cervix ≥ 1 cm who received indomethacin versus no indomethacin therapy, stratified for cerclage. Primary outcome was interval from presentation until delivery. Of 222 singleton gestations, 68 (31%) received indomethacin. In unadjusted and adjusted analyses, no significant differences were observed in interval from presentation to delivery and preterm birth < 28, < 32, or < 35 weeks comparing the indomethacin and no indomethacin groups, even after stratification for cerclage. In multivariate logistic regression analysis limited to women receiving cerclage, preterm birth < 32 weeks (odds ratio 0.56, 95% confidence interval 0.26, 1.25) and < 35 weeks (odds ratio 0.52, 95% confidence interval 0.23, 1.14) suggested a possible but not significant benefit for indomethacin use. Indomethacin therapy in women with dilated cervix at 140/7 to 256/7 weeks, regardless of cerclage or not, had no effect on pregnancy outcomes.

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Vincenzo BerghellaM.D. 

Thomas Jefferson University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

834 Chestnut Street, Suite 400 Philadelphia, PA 19107

Email: vincenzo.berghella@jefferson.edu