Efficacy of two regimens of misoprostol for early second-trimester pregnancy termination.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy of a combined regimen of misoprostol with vaginal misoprostol for early 2nd-trimester pregnancy termination.


METHODS
This is a prospective study that includes 79 pregnant women who requested legal termination of 2nd-trimester pregnancy between 13 and 22 weeks. Two regimens of misoprostol were used. Group 1: 400 microg of oral plus 400 microg vaginal misoprostol every 8 h (combined regimen) and group 2: 400 microg of vaginal misoprostol every 3 h up to a maximum of five doses (vaginal regimen).


RESULTS
The induction-to-abortion interval was significantly longer in group 1 (25.5 +/- 24.45 h) than in group 2 (15 +/- 7.14 h) (p = 0.016). The abortion rate within 24 h in group 1 was of 56.8 vs. 85.7% in group 2 (p = 0.006). The hazard rate for vaginal delivery within 24 h was found to be 2.277-fold greater in the group with the combined therapy once controlled for plausible confounders.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that oral misoprostol combined with vaginal misoprostol does not reduce the induction-to-abortion interval compared to an exclusively vaginal route when used for early 2nd-trimester pregnancy termination.
Guix
Cristina
C
Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institut Clínic de Ginecologia, Obstetrícia i Neonatologia, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Palacio
Montse
M
Figueras
Francesc
F
Bennasar
Mar
M
Zamora
Luis
L
Coll
Oriol
O
Cararach
Vicenç
V
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D016595:Misoprostol