New strategies in the treatment of preterm delivery.

Kim, Jong Hwa

Review

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2005;48(7):1605-1612.
Published online July 1, 2005.

New strategies in the treatment of preterm delivery.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jh369.kim@samsung.com

Abstract

Preterm delivery is defined as delivering a fetus or fetuses before 37th gestational week. The incidence of preterm delivery has been reported to be 8-10% but is associated with 75% of perinatal mortality and morbidity, and long term sequelae such as cerebral palsy. The rates of preterm deliveries have actually increased in recent years for complex reasons despite widespread efforts to address the problem. A major drawback for the development of beneficial interventions of preterm delivery is the poor understanding of the normal physiology of human parturition. However, research efforts to elucidate this problem have risen substantially over the past decades, and there have been great advances in the understanding of the molecular and cellular pathways. This understanding has led to the development of several therapeutic strategies in terms of delaying the delivery and reducing the perinatal complications. Thus, we will discuss on the recent developments in therapeutic strategies in preterm labor and preterm premature rupture of membranes including antibiotics treatment, antenatal corticosteroid therapy and various tocolytic agents.

Key Words: Preterm delivery, Latest Treatments, Tocolytics, Corticosteroid