INDUCTION OF ABORTION IN THE 2ND TRIMESTER BY A COMBINATION OF MISOPROSTOL AND MIFEPRISTONE - A RANDOMIZED COMPARISON BETWEEN 2 MISOPROSTOLREGIMENS

The combination of mifepristone (RU486) and prostaglandin is effective in the induction of abortion in the second trimester. The optimal reg imen is still under development, but is likely to be characterized by a short induction-to-abortion interval, low incidence of side-effects and high acceptability. We have investigated further whether misoprost ol, a synthetic prostaglangin E(1) analogue, can reliably induce secon d trimester abortion in 70 women pre-treated with mifepristone, and wh ether different routes of administration affect the induction-to-abort ion interval. Abortion was achieved in 97% [95% confidence interval (C I) 90-100%] of cases without resort to other prostaglandin agents. The mean induction abortion time for the studied population was 6.4 h (95 % CI 5.6-7.0 h). No significant difference was found between two diffe rent routes of administration, namely vaginal versus a combination of vaginal and oral. Misoprostol has a number of advantages over other pr ostaglandin preparations. We recommend that, following pre-treatment w ith mifepristone, misoprostol is used as the prostaglandin of choice t o induce abortion in the second trimester.