This new drug can reduce post-delivery bleeding and save lives, says WHO | health

Excessive bleeding after childbirth is one of the leading causes of death in several countries. About 70,000 women die each year because of postpartum hemorrhages, which also increases the risk of infant deaths in the month.

"Despite substantial reductions in maternal mortality, hemorrhage continues to be the leading direct cause of maternal deaths." 6,61,000 deaths worldwide between 2003 and 2009. More than 70% of deaths hemorrhagic occur postpartum, and most are due to uterine atony, which results from poor contraction of the uterus after childbirth, "the study [men] 19659003]a clinical trial conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 10 countries (including India) shows that a new formulation using carbetocin could be an effective way to prevent This could potentially save thousands of women's lives.

Currently, the WHO recommends oxytocin as the first choice drug to prevent excessive bleeding after childbirth. Oxytocin must be stored and transported e between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius, which is difficult to do in many countries, depriving many women of access to this drug that can save their lives. If exposed to heat, the drug becomes less effective.

The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, shows that a thermostable formulation of carbetocin can be as safe as oxytocin to prevent postpartum hemorrhages. This new formulation of carbetocin does not require refrigeration and retains its effectiveness for at least 3 years, when it is stored at a temperature of 30 degrees Celsius and 75% relative humidity. "This is an encouraging new development that can revolutionize our ability to keep both mothers and babies alive," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the WHO.

For the trial, the team studied 30,000 women who gave birth by countries such as India, Argentina, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Singapore , South Africa, Thailand, Uganda and the United Kingdom. The study found that both drugs were equally effective in preventing excessive bleeding after birth, but oxytocin tends to degrade at higher temperatures, while thermostable carbetocin shows no effect high temperature. The next step will be a regulatory review and approval by the countries.

(With IANS entries)

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