Misoprostol moistened with acetic acid or saline for second trimester pregnancy termination: a randomized prospective double-blind trial.
BACKGROUND
This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and side effects of a new regimen of 800 microg misoprostol administered intravaginally every 6 h up to a maximum of three doses in 24 h for second trimester pregnancy termination.


METHODS
A total of 66 women seeking termination of second trimester pregnancy (30 fetal structural anomaly, six chromosomal abnormality and 30 fetal death) were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: (i) intravaginal misoprostol moistened with 3 ml of 5% acetic acid in group A (n = 33); or (ii) intravaginal misoprostol moistened with 3 ml of saline in group B (n = 33).


RESULTS
The overall median (range) induction-abortion interval was 10 h (2-46) [10 h (4-35) in 36 live fetuses and 9 h (2-46) in 30 dead fetuses, P = 0.515]. All of the patients in both groups aborted within 48 h (100% success rate). The median (range) induction-abortion interval revealed a significantly faster delivery time (P < 0.001) in group A [8 h (2-24)] than in group B [14 h (3-46)].


CONCLUSIONS
This new regimen of 800 microg of vaginal misoprostol every 6 h for a maximum of three doses in 24 h was an effective alternative method for second trimester abortion. In addition, misoprostol moistened with acetic acid was significantly more effective than misoprostol moistened with saline.
Yilmaz
Bulent
B
Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ankara, Turkey. drbulentyilmaz@yahoo.com
Kelekci
Sefa
S
Ertas
Ibrahim Egemen
IE
Kahyaoglu
Serkan
S
Ozel
Murat
M
Sut
Necdet
N
Danisman
Nuri
N
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D016595:Misoprostol; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D019342:Acetic Acid