Treatment of premature labor with the calcium antagonist nifedipine.

The effect of the calcium antagonist nifedipine on premature labor was investigated in ten carefully selected patients. The main aim of treatment was to inhibit uterine activity and delivery for 3 days during which time fetal lung maturation was accelerated by glucocorticoid treatment. In all 10 patients, uterine activity was abolished during the 3 days of treatment and delivery was also postponed. No serious maternal side effects were observed. All children were delivered in good condition. All survived and were alive and well at 1 year.