The effects of mifepristone on uterine sensitivity to oxytocin and on fetal heart rate patterns.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the incidences of tachysystole, hypertonia and fetal heart rate (FHR) abnormalities in women treated by mifepristone plus prostaglandins (PGs), mifepristone alone or PGs alone for an unfavourable cervix.


METHODS
In this retrospective study, all women between 37 and 42 weeks were eligible for the study if they had undergone cervical ripening prior to labour induction. In group 1, the women were treated with mifepristone plus PGs (n=103). Group 2 women were treated with mifepristone alone (n=96) and group 3 women with PGs alone (n=100). Incidences of tachysystole, hypertonia and FHR abnormalities were compared.


RESULTS
During induction of labour, tachysystole and hypertonia occurred more frequently in women treated with mifepristone. Severe bradycardia and recurrent late decelerations were more frequent after the initiation of oxytocin in groups 1 and 2 than in group 3.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, mifepristone increased the incidences of tachysystole, hypertonia and FHR abnormality.
Giacalone
P L
PL
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, University of Montpellier, 371 rue du Doyen Gaston Giraud, 34295 Montpellier Cedex 5, France. pl-giacalone@chu-montpellier.fr
Daurés
J P
JP
Faure
J M
JM
Boulot
P
P
Hedon
B
B
Laffargue
F
F
D000328:Adult; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal / Q000187:drug effects*; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007751:Labor, Induced; D016015:Logistic Models; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects*
D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D011453:Prostaglandins; D015735:Mifepristone; D011374:Progesterone; D010121:Oxytocin