Two regimens of misoprostol for treatment of incomplete abortion.
OBJECTIVE
Misoprostol shows promise for treatment of incomplete abortion. We evaluated 2 simple misoprostol regimens to estimate whether they were effective in treating incomplete abortion.


METHODS
A total of 169 women was randomly assigned to either a single or double dose of 600 microg misoprostol. The women, who would have received a surgical evacuation of the uterus for incomplete abortion, were patients at 2 hospitals in Bangkok, Thailand. The 2 groups of women were compared for success of treatment (no need for surgical evacuation), side effects, and acceptability.


RESULTS
Sixty-six percent of women in the single-dose group and 70% of women in the double-dose group had complete abortions with misoprostol. More than 90% of women in the single- and double-dose groups reported that the side effects were tolerable; frequency of side effects was similar between the 2 groups. Women found the treatment acceptable. Approximately 90% of women in both groups would recommend the treatment to a friend. Acceptability and efficacy were different at the 2 participating clinics.


CONCLUSIONS
Misoprostol is an effective treatment for incomplete abortion. Simple regimens may be as effective as more complicated ones and a single dose of 600 microg should be further evaluated in larger trials.
Blanchard
Kelly
K
Population Council, Johannesburg, South Africa. kblanchard@ibisreproductivehealth.org
Taneepanichskul
Surasak
S
Kiriwat
Orawan
O
Sirimai
Korakot
K
Svirirojana
Nucharee
N
Mavimbela
Nqobile
N
Winikoff
Beverly
B
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000027:Abortion, Incomplete / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D016595:Misoprostol