Abstract : The effectiveness and safety of vaginal misoprostol, without the need for postexpulsion systematic curettage, were investigated in 120 Cuban women seeking late first-trimester abortion (10-12 weeks). Women received 800 mcg of misoprostol vaginally every 24 hours, for a maximum of three doses. Complete abortion occurred in 104 women (87%); 87 women (73%) aborted after a single dose, 11 (9%) required two doses, and 6 (5%) received a third dose. The remaining 16 women (13%) underwent surgical abortion. Mean hemoglobin decreased from 12.2 mg/dl before treatment to 11.6 mg/dl after abortion ; a difference that was statistically but not clinically significant. Side effects ; which disappeared within 2 hours ; included nausea (22%), vomiting (17%), diarrhea (54%), dizziness (25%), headache (19%), and chills (72%). Although 99% of subjects reported pelvic pain (99%), only 10% requested an analgesic for pain relief. Vaginal bleeding persisted for a mean of 8 days. According to logistic regression analysis, the only variable significantly associated with treatment success was race. The success rate was 94% among White women compared with 73% among Black and Black Cuban women. The acceptable expulsion period, the fact that a postabortion systematic curettage was not required, the clinically insignificant hemoglobin loss, and the high success rate all demonstrate that misoprostol administered vaginally may be a valid method for interrupting late first-trimester pregnancies.
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