Behaviour of β2-adrenoceptors on lymphocytes under continuous and pulsatile tocolysis with Fenoterol
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P. Schmidt-Rhode
Abstract
The present study investigates the population of β2-receptors on lymphocytes in pregnant women with premature labor between the 29th and 34th week of pregnancy. The population of receptors on lymphocytes correlates with that on the myometrium, which is not accessible for study during pregnancy. Fourteen patients received a pulsatile tocolysis, while ten women received a continuous tocolysis with Fenoterol. Assuming an equal population of receptors in both groups before commencement of therapy, the numbers of receptors in the patients with continuous tocolysis fell to about 35% of the initial value after 72 hours. Under pulsatile tocolysis, the numbers of receptors remained unchanged for a period of three days and was still only just below 70% of the initial value by the seventh day.
Our data demonstrate that continuous administration of the short-acting β2-agonist Fenoterol resulted in a substantial loss of β2-adrenoceptors on lymphocytes. In contrast, intermittent administration of the same β2-adrenergic agonist prevented the onset of receptor down-regulation in pregnant women with preterm labor. Further studies are required to investigate the impact of the decreased loss of β2-adrenoceptor density on the good clinical experience with intermittent tocolysis.
Copyright © 2003 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG
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Articles in the same Issue
- The offspring of gestational diabetes
- Matrix metalloproteinase 3 in parturition, premature rupture of the membranes, and microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity
- Levels of lipoprotein(a) in normal and compromised pregnancy
- Elevated risk for neonatal outcome following denial of pregnancy: results of a one-year prospective study compared with control groups
- Toxoplasmosis in pregnancy is still an open subject
- Uterine contraction frequency during treatment of pyelonephritis in pregnancy and subsequent risk of preterm birth
- Behaviour of β2-adrenoceptors on lymphocytes under continuous and pulsatile tocolysis with Fenoterol
- Maternal and fetal plasma endothelin levels in intrauterine growth restriction: relation to umbilical artery Doppler flow velocimetry
- Early markers of late-onset sepsis in premature neonates: clinical, hematological and cytokine profile
- CSF findings in neonates with seizures; infectious and noninfectious
- Viral infections in neonates with seizures
- New transcutaneous jaundice device with two optical paths
- Congress Calendar
- Roster of Perinatal Societies
- WAPM-Newsletter No 1/2003
