Intravaginal 400 microg misoprostol for pregnancy termination in cases of blighted ovum: a randomised controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effectiveness and side effects of intravaginal misoprostol 400 micrograms compared with a placebo for facilitating complete abortion in cases of blighted ovum.


METHODS
A prospective randomised placebo-controlled trial.


METHODS
Rajavithi Hospital, Thailand between 1 July 1998 and 31 January 1999.


METHODS
Fifty-four pregnant women with gestations of up to 12 weeks whose diagnosis of blighted ovum had been made by transvaginal ultrasound.


METHODS
The patients were assigned randomly into two equal groups; the study group received two tablets of vaginal misoprostol (200 micrograms/tablet), and the control group received two tablets of a vaginal placebo.


RESULTS
The complete abortion rate was significantly higher in the women receiving misoprostol (63%) compared with those receiving the placebo (18.5%) (p < 0.05). Lower abdominal pain (74.1%) and fever (14.8%) were significantly higher in the study group than in the placebo group (22.2%) and (0%) respectively, (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Intravaginal 400 microg misoprostol is significantly more effective for termination of blighted ovum than placebo, but lower abdominal pain and fever are signifcantly higher in the misoprostol group.
Kovavisarach
Ekachai
E
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rajavithi Hospital, Ministry of Public Health, Bangkok, Thailand.
Sathapanachai
Udomsak
U
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010063:Ovum / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D016595:Misoprostol