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pubmed:otherAbstract |
PIP: Misoprostol is a stable, orally active synthetic analogue of prostaglandin E, which is used for the prophylaxis and treatment of peptic ulcer. It is cheap, effective, and associated with fewer gastrointestinal side effects. Misoprostol has an uterotonic effect and it is contraindicated for women in early pregnancy. Preliminary reports suggest that misoprostol in combination with mifepristone at a dose of 200 mg or 600 mg may be as effective as gemeprost or sulprostone for inducing early abortion but with fewer side effects. The authors report their experience using misoprostol together with mifepristone to induce abortion in 100 women in early pregnancy. 100 women requesting medical termination of pregnancy at the Medical Termination Unit of Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion, Edinburgh, with amenorrhea of or less than 56 days were given 200 mg mifepristone; 48 hours later they were given 600 ug misoprostol orally. The study found the combination of misoprostol with mifepristone to be inexpensive, simple, effective, noninvasive, and an acceptable alternative to current regimens for medical termination. One woman had an incomplete abortion prior to the administration of misoprostol, 93% of 99 women had complete abortion following administration of misoprostol, there were three ongoing pregnancies and four incomplete abortions, 24% of the women vomited and 7% had diarrhea following administration of misoprostol, and 62% did not require analgesia.
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