Role of micronised progesterone in maintenance therapy following arrested preterm labor: a randomised controlled trial

Background: The aims and objectives of this study were to determine whether maintenance tocolytic therapy with micronised progesterone (400 mg) in patients with arrested preterm labor, prolongs the latency period of gestation and to see the effect of prolonged latency period on fetal outcome in terms of birth weight and NICU admissions and maternal outcome in terms of prolongation to term gestation.Methods: Pregnant women who were arrested with acute tocolysis as evidenced by a 12 hour contraction free period were randomized into study and control groups. The study group received 400 mg of vaginal micronized progesterone daily, while the control group did not receive any drug. The patients were followed up till 37 completed weeks. Prolongation of pregnancy upto term and birth wt. and NICU admissions were noted.Results: 1) In the present study the mean period of gestation at delivery was significantly high in study group 37.51 ± 2.70 weeks as compared to that in control group 35.15 ± 2.72 weeks. This was statistically significant at 95% confidence interval by using student’s t statistics. 2) In the present study, 42.00% babies in study group had birth weight more than 2.5 kg which was significantly higher than that in control group, in which 24.00% had birth weight more than 2.5 kg.Conclusions: We conclude that, maintenance tocolytic therapy with micronised progesterone (400 mg) up-to 37 weeks of gestation in patients with arrested preterm labor significantly prolongs the latency period and results in better perinatal outcome.