The goal of this study was to investigate the action of ritodrine hydr
ochloride on placental lipid metabolism in preterm deliveries. Eightee
n placentas from preterm deliveries were anlayzed. Group I consisted o
f ten preterm deliveries in which iv ritodrine hydrochloride had been
administered. All patients received intravenous infusion of 150 mg rit
odrine (Pre-par) in 500 ml of 5% glucose solution. Group II consisted
of eight preterm deliveries in which no tocolysis had been administere
d. Ritodrine administration as tocolysis leads to evelvation of total
placental lipid contents. At the same time, the concentrations of phos
pholipids and free fatty acids increase.