Induction of labor in toxemia with misoprostol.
BACKGROUND
To compare the efficacy and complications of intravaginal misoprostol application with oxytocin infusion for induction of labor in toxemia of pregnancy with a modified Bishop score of < or =4.


METHODS
A hundred preeclamptic women with a modified Bishop score of < or =4 were randomized into two groups of 50 patients one group receiving 50 microg intravaginal misoprostol 4 times at 4 hour intervals, the second group receiving oxytocin infusion for induction of labor starting from 1 mIU/per minute, increasing it every 30 minutes with 2 mIU/per minute increments up to maximum of 30 mIU/per minute. Modified Bishop scores 12 hours after induction, the time from induction to delivery, the route of delivery, fetal outcome and maternal complications were recorded. Statistical analyses were performed using Mann Whitney-U, Chi-Square and hypothesis tests about differences for two proportions (t test) to determine differences between the two groups. p< or =0.05 was considered significant.


RESULTS
Misoprostol was significantly superior for induction of labor in toxemia of pregnancy with modified Bishop score of < or =4. After 12 hours median modified Bishop scores of misoprostol administered group and oxytocin administered group were 7 and 4 respectively. Misoprostol administered group 1 was significantly better than oxytocin administered group 2 (p=0.027). The rate of patients who were in labor after 12 hours were 94% and 80% in group 1 and 2 respectively and the difference showed significant difference (p<0.05). The median time from induction to delivery was 14 hours and 16 hours in the misoprostol and oxytocin administered group respectively with significant difference between the groups (p=0.003). The rate of vaginal delivery was significantly higher in the misoprostol administered group 1 (82%) when compared with the oxytocin administered group 2 (66%) (p<0.05). The 1 and 5 minutes median Apgar scores were 5-7 and 6-7.5 in group 1 and 2, respectively with no significant differences between the groups (p=0.96, p=0.64). The rate of admission to neonatal intensive care unit was similar in both groups. The complication rates were similar in all groups and no significant detrimental effects were noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Intravaginal misoprostol is an efficacious, cheap and safe method of induction of labor in toxemia of pregnancy with modified Bishop score of < or =4.
Sahin
H Guler
HG
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty, University of Yuzuncu Yil, Van, Turkey. drsahin@yahoo.com
Sahin
Huseyin Avni
HA
Kocer
Mustafa
M
D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000328:Adult; D001034:Apgar Score; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007751:Labor, Induced; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010120:Oxytocics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome
D010120:Oxytocics; D016595:Misoprostol; D010121:Oxytocin