HUMAN CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN (HcG) VS MAGNESIUM SULPHATE (MgSo4) AS A TOCOLYTIC AGENT- A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL
Status:
Recruiting
Trial end date:
2023-05-20
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Preterm labor is defined as regular contractions of the uterus resulting in changes in the
cervix (effacement and dilatation) that start before 37 weeks of pregnancy. (1) Although
preterm labor constitutes only 10% of total labors, yet 70% of infant's mortality is related
to prematurity. It is therefore one of the international indices in assessment of health
condition worldwide. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (H.C.G.) is a heterodimeric glycoprotein
produced primarily in the placenta and has multiple endocrines, paracrine and
immunoregulatory actions. (3) The importance of H.C.G. in maintenance of early pregnancy has
been widely accepted, reports have highlighted a potential role of H.C.G. in maintaining
uterine quiescence in the third trimester. H.C.G. exerts a potent concentration dependent
inhibitory effect on human myometrial contractions. (4) Recent data suggests that H.C.G.
might have a role as an endogenous tocolytic agent in normal pregnancy. A significant
decrease in serum H.C.G. level was found 2-3 weeks before the spontaneous onset of labour.
This might contribute to increasing the contractility in the uterine muscle and gradually
initiating the onset of labour. (5)