Longer, healthier pregnancies

The boost in newborns' health was greatest in those who were born very prematurely (24 weeks to 28 weeks), the study said.

Premature delivery is the leading cause of death and disability of newborns worldwide. According to the researchers at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, this is the first study to identify a drug that stops preterm labour and also improves infant outcomes. They said nitro-glycerine causes fewer side effects than other drugs.

Published in the January issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the five-year study included 153 women who were recruited at the time they went into preterm labour.

Caring for premature babies and their medical complications can be costly for families and societies. Based on their findings, the researchers said that "treatment with nitro-glycerine may result in major cost savings and longer-term health benefits for these babies."

The study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. – (HealthDayNews)

February 2007