Acute pulmonary edema secondary to long-term use of oral ritodrine in a woman with a triplet pregnancy

Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2007 Mar;96(3):208-11. doi: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2006.06.023. Epub 2007 Feb 2.

Abstract

A 28-year-old primigravida who had taken oral ritodrine for 5 months to stop premature uterine contractions and was admitted in labor in the 33rd week of pregnancy developed acute pulmonary edema after cesarean section. Although parenteral ritodrine is the beta-adrenergic agent used most extensively to treat premature labor, only 1 case of pulmonary edema associated with long-term use of oral ritodrine had been reported so far. The present report presents for the first time computed tomographic findings of acute pulmonary edema secondary to tocolytic therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Administration, Oral
  • Adult
  • Cesarean Section
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Obstetric Labor, Premature / drug therapy
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy, Multiple
  • Pulmonary Edema / chemically induced*
  • Pulmonary Edema / diagnostic imaging
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / chemically induced
  • Ritodrine / administration & dosage
  • Ritodrine / adverse effects*
  • Tocolytic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Tocolytic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Triplets

Substances

  • Tocolytic Agents
  • Ritodrine