Parotitis due to ritodrine tocolytic treatment for preterm labor.

abstract not available. Introduction: ...Preterm labor, defined as labor before 37 weeks’ gestation, occurs in 7% to 10% of all births but accounts for more than 85% of all perinatal complications and deaths. Preterm labor seems to reflect a breakdown in the mechanism responsible for maintaining uterine quiescence.Tocolytic drugs are widely used in pregnant women who present signs and symptoms of preterm labor to prolong pregnancy in an effort to reduce infant morbidity and mortality. Increased risk of maternal morbidity induced by tocolytic treatments has been described. Ritodrine hydrochloride, a -sympathomimetic agent, is often administered to suppress premature uterine activity and is the only drug that has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of preterm labor. Drug-induced parotitis is a relatively uncommon but well-known adverse drug reaction. Parotid gland enlargement secondary to administration of ritodrine hydrochloride is an exceedingly rare occurrence. We present a new case of bilateral temporary swelling of parotid and submandibular glands due to ritodrine hydrochloride tocolytic treatment. The mechanisms underlying such occurrence are discussed in addition to therapeutic problems...