Abortifacients: toxidromes, ancient to modern--a case series and review of the literature.
Between 1998 and 1999, four women presented to an emergency department after having attempted a nonmedical abortion. All four reported turning to pharmacologically induced abortion because their access to health care was limited by lack of insurance and resources. These cases serve as a reminder that self-induced abortion remains a significant health problem for women, a problem that emergency physicians as toxicologists should be aware of.
Department of Internal Medicine, LSU School of Medicine, Medical Center of Louisiana, New Orleans 70112, USA. chrisnkarin@earthlink.net
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Netland
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Martinez
D000019:Abortifacient Agents / Q000266:history* / Q000506:poisoning*; D000024:Abortion, Illegal / Q000266:history; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional / Q000266:history; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome
D000019:Abortifacient Agents