Effectiveness and safety of digoxin to induce fetal demise prior to second-trimester abortion.
BACKGROUND
The study was conducted to assess the effectiveness in inducing fetal demise through digoxin injection given 1 day prior to second-trimester pregnancy termination and to evaluate related maternal safety.


METHODS
A retrospective cohort analysis of 1795 pregnant women between 17 and 24 weeks' gestation who received varying doses of digoxin by transabdominal intrafetal or intra-amniotic injection at the time of laminaria placement was conducted. Fetal heart activity documented by M-mode Doppler sonography on the subsequent day was considered failure. Digoxin dosages started at 1.0 mg for intrafetal and 0.5 mg for intra-amniotic injections and were progressively decreased based on best clinical judgment.


RESULTS
The overall rate of failure to achieve fetal demise was 6.6% (95% CI, 5.5-7.9). Failure rates varied according to route of administration and dosage. There were no failures using a 1.0-mg intrafetal dose, but failures occurred with lower doses. Failure rates were higher with 0.5 mg for intra-amniotic (8.3%) than intrafetal administration (3.6%). There were no adverse maternal events at any of the doses in this study.


CONCLUSIONS
Intrafetal digoxin injection at a dose of 1.0 mg is safe and effective for fetal demise prior to pregnancy termination in the second trimester. Significantly lower doses are effective in most cases. Additional doses merit further testing.
Molaei
Michael
M
Parkmed Clinic, Inc., New York, NY 10017, USA.
Jones
Heidi E
HE
Weiselberg
Tara
T
McManama
Meghan
M
Bassell
Jay
J
Westhoff
Carolyn L
CL
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004077:Digoxin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000187:drug effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D004077:Digoxin