title: Sublingual versus vaginal misoprostol (400 microg) for cervical priming in first-trimester abortion: a randomized trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to compare the sublingual administration and the vaginal administration of misoprostol for cervical priming before first-trimester surgical abortion.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used an open, multicenter, randomized trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted the study in four clinics (in Valencia, Castelló, Murcia and Murcia Capital) in Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1424 healthy pregnant women with amenorrhea of <or=84 days who voluntarily decided to terminate their pregnancy participated in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women were randomly assigned to receive a single dose of 400 microg of misoprostol either sublingually or vaginally 1-3 h before aspiration.
  
  
  METHODS
  The outcome measures assessed were cervical dilation before surgery and surgical time needed for aspiration. The incidence of side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever/chills and paresthesia, was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean cervical dilation achieved was 6.8+/-0.8 and 6.7+/-0.9 mm for the sublingual and vaginal groups, respectively. The mean surgical time was 7.0+/-2.8 and 7.4+/-2.5 min for the sublingual and vaginal groups, respectively. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea were more frequent in the sublingual group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both regimens had equal efficacy; however, the sublingual route caused more side effects.
authors.affiliation: Clínica Mediterrania Médica, Valencia 46017, Castelló, Spain. schja@infomed.sld.cu <schja@infomed.sld.cu>
authors.forename: Josep Lluis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Carbonell Esteve
authors.forename: Jose Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Marí
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Valero
authors.forename: Margardel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Llorente
authors.forename: Immaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Salvador
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Varela
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Candel
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tudela
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Muñoz
mesh_terms: D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000328:Adult; D020070:Cervical Ripening / Q000187:drug effects*; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D016595:Misoprostol