GEMEPROST FOR 1ST-TRIMESTER MISSED ABORTION

In 87 patients with a missed abortion prior to 13 weeks, the applicati on of a prostaglandin (PG) E1 derivative (1 mg gemeprost, Cergem(R)) w as compared to conventional surgical termination of pregnancy by cervi cal dilatation and curettage. In 33 patients with PGE1 application, co mplete expulsion of the abnormal pregnancy occurred after an average o f 2.8 +/- 1.5 vaginal suppositories. PGE1 treatment was effective in 7 6.7%, and surgical management was effective in 90.9% of patients. Sixt y percent of the patients in the PGE1 group required analgesia because of uterine pain in comparison to 4.5% in the surgical group. The poss ibility of medical termination with synthetic PG derivatives should be further investigated.