The effect of relcovaptan (SR 49059), an orally active vasopressin V1a receptor antagonist, on uterine contractions in preterm labor.

What Was Tested

The paper reports a study of Vasopressin, published as a randomized controlled trial.

Relcovaptan (SR 49059) is a non-peptide, orally active vasopressin V1a receptor inhibitor.

The inclusion criterion was at least four regular uterine contractions over 30 min as measured by external tocodynamometry.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 18 women were involved.

The age groups tagged for this paper are adults, women only.

The effect on uterine contractions in 18 women with preterm labor in pregnancy weeks 32-36 was assessed in a double-blind investigation.

How the Study Was Run

In design terms this was a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study.

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got Vasopressin and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

As a double-blind Vasopressin study, the assignments were hidden from both participants and investigators until the end.

The comparison arm used a placebo, so changes seen with Vasopressin could be set against what happens without it.

What Was Measured

The inclusion criterion was at least four regular uterine contractions over 30 min as measured by external tocodynamometry.

Topics PubMed links to this paper include Antidiuretic Hormone Receptor Antagonists, Cardiotocography, Indoles, Obstetric Labor, Premature, Pregnancy Trimester, Third, Pyrrolidines and Tocolytic Agents.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Vasopressin in 18 women.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 2005 (Gynecological endocrinology : the official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology), a journal based in England.

More context: the Vasopressin compound page, all human trials.