TY - JOUR
T1 - Progesterone for the prevention of preterm birth
AU - Salati, Jennifer
AU - Caughey, Aaron B.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 by the American Academy of Pediatrics. All rights reserved.
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in the United States and is one of the leading causes worldwide, with the highest rates of mortality occurring in those born at less than 32 weeks’ gestation. A history of preterm birth is one of the strongest risk factors for recurrent preterm delivery; however, early cervical shortening and multiple gestations also confer an increased risk of preterm birth. The precise causal mechanisms underlying the preterm birth pathway are still under investigation; however, available evidence suggests a role of progesterone in preterm birth prevention in certain high-risk populations. Specifically, intramuscular 17-hydroxyprogesterone appears beneficial in women with a prior pretermbirth at less than 37 weeks’ gestation (relative risk, 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.42–74) and preterm birth at less than 34 weeks’ gestation (relative risk, 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.14–0.69). Vaginal progesterone has been found to reduce preterm birth in women with a foreshortened cervix asmeasured by transvaginal ultrasonography. There is unfortunately no evidence whatsoever that progesterone reduces preterm birth among women with multiple gestations. Additional research into the mechanisms of preterm birth and the potential for progesterone and other preventive interventions is necessary.
AB - Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in the United States and is one of the leading causes worldwide, with the highest rates of mortality occurring in those born at less than 32 weeks’ gestation. A history of preterm birth is one of the strongest risk factors for recurrent preterm delivery; however, early cervical shortening and multiple gestations also confer an increased risk of preterm birth. The precise causal mechanisms underlying the preterm birth pathway are still under investigation; however, available evidence suggests a role of progesterone in preterm birth prevention in certain high-risk populations. Specifically, intramuscular 17-hydroxyprogesterone appears beneficial in women with a prior pretermbirth at less than 37 weeks’ gestation (relative risk, 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.42–74) and preterm birth at less than 34 weeks’ gestation (relative risk, 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.14–0.69). Vaginal progesterone has been found to reduce preterm birth in women with a foreshortened cervix asmeasured by transvaginal ultrasonography. There is unfortunately no evidence whatsoever that progesterone reduces preterm birth among women with multiple gestations. Additional research into the mechanisms of preterm birth and the potential for progesterone and other preventive interventions is necessary.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84908380501&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84908380501&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1542/neo.15-11-e484
DO - 10.1542/neo.15-11-e484
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84908380501
SN - 1526-9906
VL - 15
SP - e484-e492
JO - NeoReviews
JF - NeoReviews
IS - 11
ER -