A randomised trial of two regimens of vaginal misoprostol to manage termination of pregnancy of up to 16 weeks.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and side-effects of two regimens of vaginal misoprostol for pregnancy termination of up to 16 weeks.


METHODS
A randomised clinical trial of medical pregnancy termination of up to 16 weeks was conducted. A hundred pregnant women requesting legal termination of pregnancy were randomised into two groups to receive either 200 microg (50 women) or 400 microg (50 women)--vaginal misoprostol every six hours up to four doses. Outcome of abortion and side-effects were assessed.


RESULTS
The groups were similar in maternal age, gestational age, parity and indication for pregnancy termination. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in abortion (P = 0.084) and mean induction to abortion time (P = 0.35). However, the side-effects in the 400 microg group were significantly higher than in the 200 microg group (P = 0.000).


CONCLUSIONS
In pregnancy termination of up to 16 weeks, 200 microg vaginal misoprostol every six hours up to four doses was as effective as 400 microg, but side-effects were more common in 400 microg regimen.
Khazardoost
Soghra
S
Perinatalogy Department, Vali-e-Asr Reproductive Health Research Centre, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. sima687080@yahoo.com
Hantoushzadeh
Sedigheh
S
Madani
Marjan Moezi
MM
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D016595:Misoprostol