HUMAN CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN (HcG) VS MAGNESIUM SULPHATE (MgSo4) AS A TOCOLYTIC AGENT- A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

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)