RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Oxytocin can stimulate release of myocardial biomarkers troponin I and T, prolong QTc and induce ST-depression. OBJECTIVE: To explore cardiac changes after either intravenous carbetocin or oxytocin. STUDY DESIGN: Exploratory phase 4 randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Obstetrics units of Oslo University Hospital, Norway between September 2015 and May 2018. PARTICIPANTS: Forty healthy, singleton pregnant women aged 18 to 50âyears at gestational age at least 36âweeks with a planned caesarean delivery. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomised to receive either oxytocin 2.5âIU or carbetocin 100âµg immediately after delivery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary endpoint was the assessment of troponin I within 48âh of study drug administration. Troponin I and T, and creatine kinase myocardial band assessments were measured before spinal anaesthesia (baseline), and again at 4, 10 and 24âh after delivery. QTc, ST-depression and relative increase in heart rate were recorded from start of study drug administration to 10âmin after delivery. All adverse events were monitored. RESULTS: Compared with the carbetocin group, higher troponin I levels were observed in the oxytocin group at 4âh and 10âh after delivery. For both treatment groups, an increase from baseline in troponin I and T was most pronounced at 10âh after delivery, and it had begun to decline by 24âh. QTc increased with time after administration of both study drugs, with a mean maximum increase of 10.4âms observed at 9âmin (P â < â0.001). No statistical differences were observed in QTc ( P â=â0.13) or ST-depression ( P â=â0.11) between the treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Oxytocin 2.5âIU and carbetocin 100âµg caused a similar increase in QTc. The trial was underpowered with regards to ST-depression and the release of myocardial biomarkers and these warrant further investigation. Data from this trial will inform a larger phase 4 trial to determine potential drug differences in troponin release. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02528136.