(Table III). Seven out of 51 babies in the nifedipine group died
and four out of the 49 babies in the progesterone group died.
Th ere was no signifi cant diff erence in the neonatal mortality
between the two groups ( p 0.402). Th e most common cause
of neonatal mortality in the nifedipine group was extreme prematurity
with associated complications (42.9%), whereas it was
hyaline membrane disease in the progesterone group. Th ere
was no signifi cant diff erence in the cause of neonatal mortality
between the two groups. Th e mean duration of neonatal intensive
care unit stay in the nifedipine group was 12 days and it was
5 days in the progesterone group ( p 0.32).
Th ere was signifi cant diff erence in the occurrence of tachycardia,
headache and hypotension between the two groups,
nifedipine being signifi cantly more associated with side-eff ects
compared with progesterone (Table IV).