Second trimester pregnancy termination: a comparison of 600 and 800 micrograms of intravaginal misoprostol.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effectiveness of 600 and 800 microg of misoprostol administered intravaginally every 12 hours for termination of second trimester pregnancies.


METHODS
One hundred and forty-three pregnant women at 14-26 weeks' gestation were randomized in 2 groups to receive either 600 microg (N = 67), or 800 microg (N = 76) of intravaginal misoprostol every 12 hours until abortion was induced.


RESULTS
The incidences of abortion within 24 hours after initial drug administration were 82.1% (n = 55) and 78.9% (n = 60), within 48 hours 92.5% (n = 62) and 92.1% (n = 70), the mean abortion intervals were 15.2 (10.5, 20.8) hours and 15.3 (10.2, 21.8) hours, the complete abortion rates 77.6% (n = 52) and 72.4% (n = 55), and body temperature of more than 38 degrees C were 26.9% (n = 18) and 71.1% (n = 54, p = < 0.001) in the 600 and 800 microg group, respectively. All other side-effects were similar between the 2 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
In consideration of effectiveness and febrile complication, we suggest that 600 microg applied every 12 hours is the most appropriate dose to use for second trimester termination
Herabutya
Y
Y
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Chanrachakul
B
B
Punyavachira
P
P
D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D013997:Time Factors
D016595:Misoprostol