A comparative study of human chorionic gonadotropin, placebo, and bed rest for women with early threatened abortion.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effect of hCG therapy with placebo or bed rest in women with threatened abortion.


METHODS
Random assignment, double-blind.


METHODS
Community hospitals.


METHODS
Sixty-one women with viable pregnancies under 8 weeks' gestation on admission to hospital were randomly allocated to receive injections of hCG or placebo, or were advised to rest in bed.


METHODS
Abortion vs. continuation of pregnancy at 16 weeks' gestation.


RESULTS
Thirty-one aborted: 6/20 on hCG, 10/21 on placebo, 15/20 on bed rest. hCG vs. bed rest, P < .01; placebo vs. bed rest, hCG vs. placebo--not significant. Plasma progesterone: continuing pregnancy > abortion, P < .01; continued with hCG vs. aborted on placebo, P < .001; continued with hCG vs. aborted with bed rest, P < .001. No significant differences in pregnancy/birth complications or infants' birth weight. Female/male ratio was 2:1.


CONCLUSIONS
hCG is significantly better than bed rest.
Harrison
R F
RF
Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, Ireland.
D000033:Abortion, Threatened / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D001510:Bed Rest; D001724:Birth Weight; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012744:Sex Ratio; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011374:Progesterone