Anthropometric characteristics and success rates of oral or vaginal misoprostol for pregnancy termination in the first and second trimesters.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of anthropometric characteristics related to weight on medical pregnancy termination with misoprostol.


METHODS
In this prospective cohort study, 454 women admitted for medical pregnancy termination in the first or second trimester took 400 microg of misoprostol sublingually plus 800 microg of misoprostol vaginally or orally. The regimen was readministered after 24 hours if there was no response or the abortion was incomplete, and surgical evacuation was done when needed. Linear regression was performed for possible correlations between the studied characteristics and treatment process and outcome.


RESULTS
There was no correlation between the number of misoprostol administrations and any of the studied anthropometric characteristics. The numbers of both misoprostol administrations and surgical interventions were associated with oral administration.


CONCLUSIONS
The route of misoprostol administration, but not anthropometric characteristics related to weight, were found to be associated with the success of pregnancy termination with misoprostol.
van Bogaert
Louis-Jacques
LJ
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saint Rita's Hospital, Glen Cowie, Limpopo Province, South Africa. ljfvanbo@lantic.net
Misra
Asha
A
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D001835:Body Weight; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D016595:Misoprostol