title: Labor induction at term: a comparison of the effects of 50 microg and 25 microg vaginal misoprostol.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of 50 microg of vaginal misoprostol with 25 microg for labor induction at term.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty-seven pregnant women with indications for labor induction and cervical Bishop's score of < or = 6 were randomly assigned to receive either 50 microg (n = 74) or 25 microg (n = 73) of vaginal misoprostol every four hours until either a Bishop's score of > or = 8 or adequate uterine contraction frequency had been achieved. Induction-to-vaginal-delivery time was considered the primary outcome measure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean induction-to-vaginal-delivery time was significantly shorter in the 50-microg group than in the 25-microg group (526 +/- 141 min vs 745 +/- 218 min, respectively); oxytocin was administered to 65.8% of the patients in the 25-microg group and to 35.1% in the 50-microg group (p < .05). The incidence of tachysystole was significantly higher in the 50-microg group than in the 25-microg group (12% vs 2.7%, p < .05). We found no statistically significant difference between the two groups with respect to the rate of primary cesarean section, incidence of hyperstimulation syndrome, or neonatal outcome (p > .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fifty micrograms of vaginally administered misoprostol is an effective and inexpensive means of inducing labor at term. Uterine tachysystole may be associated more frequently with a 50-microg dose of vaginal misoprostol than with a 25-microg dose. Clinicians must accurately document the frequency and intensity of uterine contractions before every 50-microg dose of misoprostol is administered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baskent University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eroglu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oktem
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yanik
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kuscu
mesh_terms: D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007745:Labor Onset / Q000187:drug effects*; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010120:Oxytocics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011247:Pregnancy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D010120:Oxytocics; D016595:Misoprostol