EFFECT OF DUAL TOCOLYSIS ON THE INCIDENCE OF SEVERE INTRAVENTRICULAR HEMORRHAGE AMONG EXTREMELY LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT INFANTS

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate the null hypothesis that dual t ocolysis with magnesium sulfate and indomethacin does not alter the ra te of grade III or IV intraventricular hemorrhage. STUDY DESIGN: Fifty -six neonates weighing 500 to 800 gm from mothers who received tocolyt ic therapy with magnesium sulfate alone or in combination with indomet hacin were the subjects of this retrospective study. Demographic varia bles were evaluated with a Student t test, chi(2) analysis, Fisher exa ct test, or Mantel-Haenszel chi(2) as appropriate. RESULTS: There was an increased incidence of grade III to IV intraventricular hemorrhage among patients treated with dual therapy (p = 0.02). Logistic regressi on showed that fetal age and dual tocolysis with indomethacin were the only independent prognostic factors for severe intraventricular hemor rhage. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that dual tocolysis with indom ethacin may place extremely low-birth-weight infants at increased risk for grade III to IV intraventricular hemorrhage.