Effect of Prostaglandin E2 on Myometrial Electrical Activity in Women Undergoing Induction of Labor

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂) on electrical uterine activity using a novel uterine muscle electromyography device in patients undergoing induction of labor.

Study Design Electrical uterine myography (EUM) was prospectively measured using a noninvasive nine channels recorder in 31 women undergoing induction of labor with vaginal PGE₂ tablets. Women were monitored before and up to 12 hours after vaginal PGE₂ application. EUM index was defined as mean electrical activity of the uterine muscle over a period of 10 minutes measured in units of microjoule (µJ, µWs).

Results The EUM index was not increased significantly during the first 2 hours following PGE₂ application (overall increase of 5.3 ± 60.1%, p = 0.7). Peak EUM activity was observed during 2 to 8 hours following PGE₂ application, which represented a statistically significant increase compared with the EUM index before PGE₂ application (3.3 ± 0.5 µJ vs. 2.5 ± 0.95 µJ, p = 0.01), and with the EUM index 0 to 2 hours following PGE₂ application (3.3 ± 0.5 µJ vs. 2.3 ± 0.9 µJ, p = 0.004).

Conclusion The data suggests that in women undergoing labor induction with PGE₂, uterine activity peaks 2 to 8 hours following PGE₂ application. This information may provide more insight into the mechanism of PGE₂ action.

Keywords

induction - electrical uterine activity - myography - PGE2

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