title: Biological action and half life in plasma or intramuscular sulprostone for termination of second trimester pregnancy.
abstract: Sulprostone levels in plasma, platelet function and clinical effects were examined in four patients after intramuscular injection of 500 microgram sulprostone for induction of missed and therapeutic abortion in the second trimester of pregnancy. The half life of sulprostone in plasma was 34 (30-45) minutes. The highest  sulprostone levels were found 10 to 20 minutes after injection (0.25-0.77 ng/ml) and after 120-240 minutes the values in plasma were no longer distinguishable from zero. Platelet count remained constant. 20 minutes after the injection platelet aggregation was slightly decreased, but not to a significant level. There was no correlation between sulprostone levels in plasma and pain of labour or induction abortion times. Side effects were minimal.
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D010976:Platelet Count; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011459:Prostaglandins E, Synthetic / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011459:Prostaglandins E, Synthetic; C016767:sulprostone; D015232:Dinoprostone