THE USE OF MISOPROSTOL FOR TERMINATION OF EARLY-PREGNANCY

Misoprostol is a prostaglandin analogue with uterotonic properties. A group of 141 women with less than 70 days of pregnancy received up to 3 doses of 800 mu g of misoprostol every 48 hr. Failure was defined as the need for surgical abortion and success as the complete expulsion of the products of conception pharmacologically In total, 132 cases (9 3.6%; 95% CI 89.4-97.8) aborted pharmacologically and 9 cases (6.4%) f ailed. The decrease in hemoglobin was statistically significant (p = 0 .001) but without clinical repercussions; before treatment: 11.95 mg/d l (SD 1.19) and after: 11.14 (SG 1.20). Statistically significant diff erences were not noticed between success rates and failures in relatio n to gravidity, parity, previous abortions, race, or age, but were not iced with a gestation upwards of 9 weeks (p = 0.01). The third dose oi misoprostol showed very little efficacy. The convenience of using mor e frequent doses and shortening the treatment, combined with different routes of administration, are discussed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science In c.