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Recombinant human relaxin as a cervical ripening agent

  1. Janet E. Brennand Registrar 1,*,
  2. Andrew A. Calder Professor 1,
  3. Craig R. Leitch Senior Registrar 2,
  4. Ian A. Greer Professor 3,
  5. Min Min Chou Research Fellow 4,
  6. Ian Z. MacKenzie Consultant 4

Article first published online: 19 AUG 2005

DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1997.tb12019.x

Issue

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Volume 104, Issue 7, pages 775–780, July 1997

Additional Information

How to Cite

Brennand, J. E., Calder, A. A., Leitch, C. R., Greer, I. A., Chou, M. M. and MacKenzie, I. Z. (1997), Recombinant human relaxin as a cervical ripening agent. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 104: 775–780. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1997.tb12019.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at University of Edinburgh

  2. 2

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester

  3. 3

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Glasgow

  4. 4

    Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Oxford

*Correspondence: Dr J. Brennand, Department of Obstetrics, Glasgow Royal Maternity Hospital, Rottenrow G4 0NA, UK.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 19 AUG 2005
  2. Article first published online: 19 AUG 2005
  3. Received 24 June 1996 Accepted 8 January 1997

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Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of recombinant human relaxin (rhRIx) as a cervical ripening agent in women with an unfavourable cervix before induction of labour at term.

Design A multi-centre, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial performed in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Oxford. Women were treated with 0, 1, 2 or 4 mg of rhRIx in a gel vehicle administered intravaginally. Analysis of variance tests were performed on all continuous variables, and Cochran Mantel-Haenszel tests employed for all discrete variables.

Participants Ninety-six women at 37 to 42 weeks of gestation with a singleton pregnancy and a modified Bishop score of leqslant R: less-than-or-eq, slant 4 were recruited.

Results There was no significant difference in the change in modified Bishop score between the four treatment groups. The lengths of the first and second stages of labour were similar in all 4 groups. PGE2 and oxytocin requirements were similar in all groups, as was the mode of delivery. There was no evidence that relaxin was absorbed systemically when given in this way.

Conclusion Recombinant human relaxin 1 to 4 mg, administered as an intravaginal gel, has no effect as a cervical ripening agent before induction of labour at term.

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