A study published in the Lancet has suggested that pregnant women undergoing drug-induced labour have an increased risk of a rare, but potentially fatal syndrome.
This condition causes amniotic-fluid to leak into the blood and is almost doubly common in such women.
Scientists warned that doctors and women must be aware of the risk before choosing to have an induced birth. However a UK expert has said that induced births could lower the risk of having to undergo an emergency Caesarean section.
An amniotic fluid embolism arises where tears causes amniotic fluid to leak into the mother’s circulatory system. Researchers from the McGill University in Montreal found that the condition had affected 180 people and 24 of these cases resulted in death. The study showed that out of every 100,000 women who are induced, there are up to five cases of amniotic fluid embolism. Two of these cases are fatal.
A higher rate of amniotic fluid embolisms were recorded in women with diabetes, pre-eclampsia, older women, and women who have had caesarian, vacuum or forceps deliveries. With induction rates in the US reaching 20%, the practice could be causing amniotic fluid embolisms in up to 30 or 40 women per year.
The researchers, lead by Dr Michael Kreamer, said: “Although the small absolute risk of amniotic-fluid embolism is unlikely to affect the decision to induce labour in the presence of compelling clinical indications, women and physicians should be aware of this risk if the decision is elective.”
James Moore, from the department of critical medicine at Pittsburgh University, said cases of the condition used in the research may have been misdiagnosed. He asked for a standard clinical definition of the condition to be decided.
Professor of Obstetrics, James Walker said that the scale of research made it difficult to suggest other factors beyond a drug-induced labour which could be to blame for the embolisms.
He added: “Amniotic fluid embolism is an extremely rare event. We have to remember if you don’t induce, someone might need an emergency Caesarean, which holds a far greater risk to the mother than an amniotic-fluid embolism.”
October 2006 | 
Abortion Time Limit Cut?
