PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

L F Andersen

Publications and source records attributed to L F Andersen.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Termination of second trimester pregnancy with gemeprost vaginal pessaries and intra-amniotic PGF2 alpha. A comparative study.

152 women admitted for legal abortion in the second trimester of pregnancy were included in an open, randomized, controlled six-centre study. 75 patients received gemeprost 1 mg vaginal pessaries at 3 hours intervals up to a maximum of 5 mg and 66 patients were treated with a single 40 mg intra-amniotic dose of PGF2 alpha. The 24-hour success rate was 81% (n = 61/75) in the gemeprost and 64% (n = 42/66) in the PGF2 alpha group (p less than 0.02). The mean abortion times were 14.3 and 14.8 hours in the gemeprost and the PGF2 alpha groups, respectively. The mean time to onset of pain was shorter and more patients experienced blood loss over 100 ml during the induction in the PGF2 alpha group than in the gemeprost group (p less than 0.02). Apart from that, the nature and severity of side effects were comparable between the two groups. Besides significantly better efficacy, the non-invasive gemeprost treatment was found to be easier and safer as compared to the PGF2 alpha treatment.

Abortifacient Agents

Oxytocin receptor blockade: a new principle in the treatment of preterm labor?

The concentration of myometrial and decidual oxytocin receptors increases dramatically in normal women in late pregnancy, causing enhanced uterine sensitivity to physiologic levels of oxytocin. Similar increase in myometrial oxytocin receptors has been found in women in preterm labor, indicating a role for oxytocin also in idiopathic preterm labor. A newly synthesized oxytocin analogue, 1-deamino-2-D-Tyr-(OEt)-4-Thr-8-Orn-oxytocin, has been found to be a competitive inhibitor of oxytocin. The present study was conducted to test its efficacy in suppressing uterine contractions during preterm labor in women. Twelve patients with established, uncomplicated preterm labor between 27 and 33 weeks of gestational age were given intravenous infusions of the analogue for 1.5 to 13 hours during continuous external cardiotocographic monitoring. In nine patients inhibition of uterine contractions was achieved and further progression in cervical scores was arrested. In three patients, all at 27 weeks of gestational age, no significant tocolytic effect was observed during a 1.5-hour infusion of the analogue and the patients were then given ritodrine intravenously. No side effects were observed in any of the patients. These preliminary findings support the concept that an increased concentration of uterine oxytocin receptors is an important etiologic factor in uncomplicated preterm labor and therefore oxytocin receptor blockade may be a therapeutic alternative for this condition.

Adult

Micturition pattern in hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

Micturition pattern was investigated in 61 consecutive patients with thyroid disease. The patients were divided into three groups: hyperthyroid, hypothyroid, and euthyroid. Micturition pattern was examined after the first visit to the hospital and again six months later, when thyroid function had been restored to normal. Hyperthyroid patients had significantly increased micturition frequency as well as nocturia compared with their own control group when euthyroid (p less than 0.01). Hypothyroid patients had reduced micturition frequency compared with their own control group (p = 0.05). No significant changes were found in the euthyroid group. Which mechanisms might be responsible for the relationship between thyroid function and micturition pattern is debatable, and calls for further urodynamic and electrophysiologic studies. One conclusion is that thyroid disease should be borne in mind when patients present with unexplained urinary frequency or retention.

Female

Inhibition of uterine contractions of premature labour with an oxytocin analogue. Results from a pilot study.

A competitive inhibitor of the action of oxytocin on the uterus, 1-deamino-2-D-Tyr-(OEt)-4-Thr-8-Orn-oxytocin, was studied for the first time in 13 patients with established, uncomplicated premature labour. Intravenous infusion of 10-100 micrograms/min of the analogue was given for 1-10 h and the effect was monitored by external cardiotocography. In all women an inhibition of uterine activity was observed, and in the majority of patients infused with 25 micrograms/min and a total dose of about 5 mg or more of the drug total inhibition of uterine contractions was achieved. There were no effects on the maternal and fetal pulse rates, nor were there any other side-effects. The results of this preliminary study support the concept of an increased concentration of uterine oxytocin receptors being aetiologically important in uncomplicated premature labour. They also suggest that the present oxytocin antagonist could be an interesting therapeutic alternative in the condition, primarily because of the marked selectivity of its effect.

Clinical Trials as Topic

Sequelae of induced first-trimester abortion. A prospective study assessing the role of postabortal pelvic inflammatory disease and prophylactic antibiotics.

A follow-up study was undertaken in 493 women who had participated in a clinical, controlled trial with the object of assessing the role of postabortal pelvic inflammatory disease and prophylactic antibiotics in the development of sequelae. Information about dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, episodes of pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, births, induced and spontaneous abortions, and ectopic pregnancies were obtained from 382 of the women and from 38 of 40 women who had contracted postabortal pelvic inflammatory disease during the previous study. Significantly elevated rates in women with postabortal pelvic inflammatory disease compared with women without this disease were found for spontaneous abortion (22% versus 5%, p less than 0.0005), secondary infertility (10% versus 2%, p less than 0.05), dyspareunia (20% versus 5%, p less than 0.005), and chronic pelvic pain (14% versus 2%, p less than 0.001). Nonsignificant differences were observed for ectopic pregnancy and dysmenorrhea. A new episode of pelvic inflammatory disease within the first year after abortion was observed more often in women with postabortal pelvic inflammatory disease than in women without infection (41% versus 5%, p less than 0.0001). Prophylactic antibiotics decreased the rates of spontaneous abortion and dyspareunia (p less than 0.05 in both instances).

Abortion, Induced