Second trimester abortion using isosorbide mononitrate in addition to gemeprost compared with gemeprost alone: a double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled multicenter trial.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to determine whether second-trimester abortion using isosorbide mononitrate (IMN) in addition to gemeprost is more effective and reduces side effects compared with gemeprost alone.


METHODS
Eighty women who were age 13 to 23 weeks' gestation were randomly assigned to receive per vaginam either IMN 40 mg (group 1, 40 women) or placebo (group 2, 40 women) in addition to gemeprost 1 mg up to 3 times daily 3 hours apart for 2 days. Analysis of variance, a chi 2 test, and a multivariate analysis were performed.


RESULTS
Of the 72 women analyzed, 68% (group 1) and 38% (group 2) underwent abortion within day 1 (P < .05). However, group 1 was associated with more headache (18% of women) 3 hours after induction compared to group 2 (0% of women, P = .038).


CONCLUSIONS
IMN in addition to gemeprost is effective for second-trimester abortion, but is associated with more headache compared with gemeprost alone.
Eppel
Wolfgang
W
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Facchinetti
Fabio
F
Schleussner
Ekkehard
E
Piccinini
Federica
F
Pizzi
Cristina
C
Gruber
Doris M
DM
Schneider
Barbara
B
Tschugguel
Walter
W
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000527:Alprostadil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007548:Isosorbide Dinitrate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; C021182:gemeprost; D000527:Alprostadil; D007548:Isosorbide Dinitrate; C030397:isosorbide-5-mononitrate