Doppler assessment of the fetal and uteroplacental circulation during nifedipine therapy for preterm labor

Abstract

To investigate the effects of nifedipine on the human fetal circulation, 11 fetuses whose mothers were treated with nifedipine for treatment of preterm labor were studied. Maximum velocity waveforms were obtained in the middle cerebral artery (n = 8), renal artery (n = 6), ductus arteriosus (n = 8), and umbilical artery (n = 10). Transvalvular maximal velocity waveforms were obtained across the aortic (n = 11) and pulmonary (n = 7) valves. Maternal uterine arteries also were studied (n = 7). Doppler data were collected before and 5 hours after nifedipine therapy. Patients received an oral loading dose of 30 mg of nifedipine followed by a second oral dose of 20 mg 4 hours later. No significant difference in the flow velocity waveforms was found in the vessels studied 5 hours after the initial dose. These results suggest that short-term nifedipine therapy does not influence either fetal or uteroplacental circulation as evaluated with the Doppler technique.