Sublingual misoprostol 100 microgram versus 200 microgram for second trimester abortion: a randomised trial.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy of repeated doses of 100 microg vs. 200 microg misoprostol given sublingually for induction of second trimester abortion.


METHODS
One hundred and sixty-two women at 15-22 weeks' gestation were randomized to receive every 2 h either 100 microg (group 1; n = 81) or 200 microg (group 2; n = 81) misoprostol sublingually. The primary outcome measure was the abortion rate within 24 h. The secondary outcome measures were the induction-abortion interval, the total misoprostol dose required, and side effects of the regimen.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to the abortion rates within 12 h (43.2% in group 1 vs. 48.1% in group 2; p = 0.52; relative risk [RR]: 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.4-1.5) and 24 h (92.6% in group 1 vs. 91.4% in group 2; p = 0.77; RR: 1.11; 95% CI: 0.37-3.6). The induction-abortion intervals in the two groups were of similar length (885 minutes in group 1 vs. 912 minutes in group 2; p = 0.72). When the total dose of misoprostol was compared between the two groups, women belonging to group 2 on average had received significantly more misoprostol than those in group 1 (1274 +/- 592 microg [7 +/- 3 doses] vs. 614 +/- 432 microg [6 +/- 4 doses], respectively; p = 0.000).


CONCLUSIONS
Sublingual administration of repeated doses of 100 microg misoprostol for abortion induction appears to be equally effective to that of repeated doses of 200 microg.
Caliskan
Eray
E
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kocaeli University, School of Medicine, Uctepeler, Kocaeli, Turkey.
Doger
Emek
E
Cakiroglu
Yigit
Y
Corakci
Aydin
A
Yucesoy
Izzet
I
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000328:Adult; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D016595:Misoprostol