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End-tidal Breath Carbon Monoxide Measurements are Lower in Pregnant Women with Uterine Contractions

Journal of Perinatology volume 24, pages 275–278 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare the levels of end-tidal carbon monoxide (ETCOc) among women with and without uterine contractions in term and preterm pregnancies.

STUDY DESIGN: In all, 55 nonsmoking healthy pregnant women were enrolled. ETCOc levels were compared among women with contractions (10 preterm and 13 term) and 32 women without contractions (34–41 weeks gestation).

RESULTS: Maternal age, gravidity and parity were similar among study and control groups. ETCOc levels were significantly lower among women that had uterine contractions (0.99±0.38 parts per million (ppm) and 1.15±0.34 p.p.m. respectively), compared to women with no contractions (1.70±0.52 p.p.m., P<0.002). However, there was no significant difference in the ETCOc levels between women with preterm or term contractions (P=0.48).

CONCLUSIONS: Low levels of ETCOc are associated with preterm and term uterine contractions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

    Israel Hendler, Micha Baum, Doron Kreiser, Eyal Schiff & Daniel S Seidman

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA

    Maurice Druzin

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA

    David K Stevenson

Authors
  1. Israel Hendler
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  2. Micha Baum
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  3. Doron Kreiser
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  4. Eyal Schiff
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  5. Maurice Druzin
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  6. David K Stevenson
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  7. Daniel S Seidman
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Hendler, I., Baum, M., Kreiser, D. et al. End-tidal Breath Carbon Monoxide Measurements are Lower in Pregnant Women with Uterine Contractions. J Perinatol 24, 275–278 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211094

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