Oi Shan Tang1, B Y Miao, Sharon W H Lee, Pak Chung Ho. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China. ostang@graduate.hku.hk
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A sublingual misoprostol-alone regimen was used in 50 women requesting medical abortion at up to 12 weeks gestation. The efficacy and acceptability of this regimen were studied. METHODS: The women were given 600 microg misoprostol sublingually every 3 h for a maximum of 5 doses. RESULTS: The overall complete abortion rate was 86% (95% confidence interval: 74-93). The mean number of doses of misoprostol required was 4.1 +/- 1.1. There was no significant change in haemoglobin concentration and the median duration of vaginal bleeding was 15 days (range: 7-56). Diarrhoea, fever and chills were the most common side-effects. The acceptability of this regimen of misoprostol was good: 97.7% of the women who had a complete abortion would choose this method again and 88.4% would recommend it to others. They preferred sublingual misoprostol as it is convenient to take, avoids the painful vaginal administration and gives more privacy during the abortion process. CONCLUSION: This regimen of sublingual misoprostol is an effective and acceptable method of medical abortion. Randomized controlled trials are required to compare the efficacy of various misoprostol-alone regimens of medical abortion. Pharmacokinetic studies and clinical trials are needed to find out the most appropriate dose, dosing interval and route of administration of misoprostol.
BACKGROUND: A sublingual misoprostol-alone regimen was used in 50 women requesting medical abortion at up to 12 weeks gestation. The efficacy and acceptability of this regimen were studied. METHODS: The women were given 600 microg misoprostol sublingually every 3 h for a maximum of 5 doses. RESULTS: The overall complete abortion rate was 86% (95% confidence interval: 74-93). The mean number of doses of misoprostol required was 4.1 +/- 1.1. There was no significant change in haemoglobin concentration and the median duration of vaginal bleeding was 15 days (range: 7-56). Diarrhoea, fever and chills were the most common side-effects. The acceptability of this regimen of misoprostol was good: 97.7% of the women who had a complete abortion would choose this method again and 88.4% would recommend it to others. They preferred sublingual misoprostol as it is convenient to take, avoids the painful vaginal administration and gives more privacy during the abortion process. CONCLUSION: This regimen of sublingual misoprostol is an effective and acceptable method of medical abortion. Randomized controlled trials are required to compare the efficacy of various misoprostol-alone regimens of medical abortion. Pharmacokinetic studies and clinical trials are needed to find out the most appropriate dose, dosing interval and route of administration of misoprostol.
Authors: Shagufta Parveen; Zaffar Abbas Khateeb; S M Mufti; M A Shah; Vishal R Tandon; S Hakak; Z Singh; Shagufta Yasmeen; Shakeel A Mir; Rehana Tabasum; Nasreen Jan Journal: Indian J Pharmacol Date: 2011-04 Impact factor: 1.200