Acetaminophen mimics the action of salbutamol in relaxing gravid human uterus-in-vitro

ABSTRACT

Management of preterm labour was generally treated by salbutamol even with some expected disturbances is maternal pulmonary oedema, respiratory distress and cardiovascular side effects and neonatal low-size and cellularity of thymus and lymph nodes. This demands finding a substitute free of these side effects. Initially, acetaminophen was tested on rats uterine horns and on pregnant rats and reported an effective relaxation of the uterine horns and profound delay in parturition. These results justified an in-vitro study on strips of gravid human uterus ruptured during difficult labour. Acetaminophen [50 mg] reduced tension by 50% which was comparable to decrease in tension when 5 micro g of salbutamol was added. Profound drop in tension is care of adjunct use of both drugs, while repeated three doses of 50 mg acetoaminophen when added separately resulted in corresponding drops in tension down to below resting level. These findings encouraged future clinical trials on threatened women with abortion since the use of acetaminophen in the usual dosage is effective tocolytic agent without any maternal side effects but with mild possible neonatal lung congestion as a result of transient narrowing of ductus arteriosus especially in advanced gestational age