Mifepristone and misoprostol for medical termination of pregnancy: the effectiveness of a flexible regimen.
BACKGROUND
Mifepristone, followed 48 hours later by administration of misoprostol, is a well-established regimen for medical termination of pregnancy (TOP). Although this regimen is effective, its inflexibility may limit its provision in an outpatient service.


OBJECTIVE
To confirm that misoprostol administration is effective whether administered 24, 48 or 72 hours after oral mifepristone.


METHODS
Observational study of 234 consecutive women with pregnancies up to 83 days' gestational age in whom medical TOP was performed during the period December 2000-July 2001.


METHODS
Women's Health Care Department, Royal Bolton Hospital, Bolton, UK.


RESULTS
There was a high success rate for complete abortion in all groups whether mifepristone was administered 24, 48 or 72 hours prior to misoprostol.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that a more flexible regimen of mifepristone/misoprostol administration for medical TOP is effective in routine clinical practice.
Basu
Ranjan
R
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Bolton Hospital, Bolton, UK.
Gundlach
Tina
T
Tasker
Margaret
M
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D000029:Abortion, Legal / Q000379:methods; D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal; D016595:Misoprostol; D015735:Mifepristone