Effects of Misoprostol on Induction of Labour in Patients with Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) can cause serious prenatal and postnatal complications and is a threat to maternal and fetal health. To offer guidance for clinical decisions, we systematically reviewed the effects of misoprostol on induction of labour in HDP patients.
Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, and Wanfang databases were searched for relevant literature from 2010 to 2020. Subsequently, a meta-analysis was performed to compare the effective rate of induction of labour and reducing postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) between the intervention group (n = 544, misoprostol) and the control group (n = 543, oxytocin).
Results: A total of 10 studies with 1087 patients were included. The 10 studies compared the effective rate of induction of labour between the two groups and confirmed that the effective rate in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group (OR = 4.37; 95% CI: 2.73, 7.00). Seven studies compared PPH between the groups and showed that it was significantly reduced in the intervention group compared to the control group (SMD = -1.32; 95% CI: -2.05, -0.59; P < 0.0001).
Conclusion: Misoprostol has a high effective rate of induction of labour in HDP patients and is an effective uterotonic agent in reducing PPH. This meta-analysis provides clinicians with meaningful information to help them make evidence-based decisions.

1. Introduction

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are common obstetric disorders with a systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg as the main manifestation. It can be further classified as nonsevere (<160/110 mmHg) and severe (≥160/110 mmHg) [1]. The disorders include gestational hypertension, chronic hypertension, pre-eclampsia-eclampsia, and chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia [2]. In China, HDP incidence is 5%–12%, and its mortality rate is up to approximately 10%–16%, ranking second in the causes of maternal mortality [3]. Common surgical complications in HDP patients include placental abruption, thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, stroke, kidney and liver injury, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and HELLP syndrome; potential long-term sequelae include postpartum hypertension, diabetes, and maternal and fetal cardiovascular disease [4].

Induction of labour refers to the process of artificial stimulation of the uterus to start and/or accelerate labour. While antihypertensive intervention reduces HDP-related morbidity and mortality, the only cure is through delivery. Timely delivery, preferably vaginal delivery, is essential in achieving favourable maternal and neonatal outcomes. Therefore, induction of labour is a critical approach to prevent HDP-related morbidity and mortality [5]. Clinically, mechanical induction and pharmacological induction are the most common labour induction methods, and oxytocin is the most common pharmacological agent used in the latter [6]. Other pharmacological methods of labour induction include administration, single or combined, of prostaglandins [7]. Among the prostaglandins, misoprostol, a prostaglandin E1 analogue, has attracted much attention due to its high safety profile and convenience [8]. Additionally, it is rapidly absorbed, has a short onset and action time, has no effect on maternal lactation, has an ability to enhance the frequency and amplitude of uterine contractions, and is therefore suitable for induction of full-term and early-term pregnancy [9, 10]. However, vaginal misoprostol is associated with incidences of acute intrapartum complications including uterine hyperstimulation, cesarean section for fetal heart rate abnormalities, and abruptio placentae [11]. This systematic review is aimed at assessing the clinical efficacy of misoprostol in HDP patients.

2. Methods

2.1. Literature Retrieval

PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, and Wanfang databases were searched for related Chinese or English literature published from the year 2010 to 2020. The following search terms were utilized: (“Misoprostol”) AND (“Induction of labour” OR “Pregnancy”) AND (“Gestational hypertension” OR “High blood pressure during pregnancy” OR “Eclampsia”). In order to be more systematic and comprehensive, a further manual search was performed and the references of all the related literature were checked to identify possible gray literature that met the selection criteria but were not retrieved electronically.

2.2. Screening Criteria

Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) Design: retrospective clinical trial; (2) Study subjects: patients who met the HDPs diagnostic criteria; (3) Intervention measures: by randomization, patients in the intervention group were given misoprostol tablets while those in the control group were induced with oxytocin; and (4) Outcome measures: clinical efficacy indicators, such as an effective rate of induction of labour or amount of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH).

Exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) patients without a definite diagnosis of HDPs; and (2) reviews, duplicate literature, and animal experiments.

2.3. Data Screening and Extraction

The titles, references, and abstracts of the literature that met the inclusion criteria were assessed by two reviewers independently. During this process, the uncertainty and disagreement were resolved through the discussion within the research group until consensus was reached.

The following data were required to extract information of papers (author, year of publication, study design, and country), information about the study subjects (selection criteria, demographics, diagnosis, and follow-up), details of the intervention group (drug dose, frequency and duration of intervention, and outcome measurement), and details of the control group.

2.4. Evaluation of Publication Bias

Generally, publication bias for endpoints was assessed by funnel plots. However, since the number of literature included in this analysis was less than 10, a publication bias was considered by default, and no funnel plot was prepared. Additionally, sensitivity analysis was used to evaluate the stability for these meta-analysis results.

2.5. Statistical Analysis

Stata 16.0 was used for this meta-analysis, and the outcomes, heterogeneity, and subgroup analysis were quantitatively summarized. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were estimated for each dichotomous variable while continuous variables were combined utilizing standardized mean difference (SMD), along with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and P values. Assessment of heterogeneity was completed using the Q test and I2 statistics. In the case of heterogeneity (P < 0.05 or I2 > 50%), the random-effects model was adopted; otherwise, the fixed effects model was employed.

2.6. Patient and Public Involvement

No patient was involved.

3. Results

3.1. Search Results

The literature screening process and results are presented in Figure 1. A total of 332 studies were retrieved initially by literature search, and then 47 were included after reading the titles and abstracts. Next, based on the screening criteria, 10 articles with a total of 1087 patients (intervention group: n = 544, misoprostol; control group: n = 543, oxytocin) were finally included after reading the full text [12-21].

Figure 1

Summary of literature retrieval process for effects of misoprostol on induction of labour in patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

3.2. Characteristics of the Included Literature

The 10 included studies were all retrospective trials published in Chinese from the year 2010 to 2020. Their sample size varied widely, ranging from 34 to 264 participants (average: 108 participants/study). The subject's age ranged from 26.3 to 29.1 years, and the gestational weeks ranged from 20 to 40 weeks. The main characteristics of the included studies are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1

Basic characteristics of the included literature.

NO.	First author	Year	Sample time (year.month)	No. of patients treat/con	Age (year)		Gestational week (week)		Study design
					Intervention group	Control group	Intervention group	Control group
1	Wang yirong	2015	2013.6–2014.5	134/134	NR	NR	34–37	34–37	Retrospective
2	Mayi	2015	2014.1–2015.2	128/128	27.6 ± 6.2	27.4 ± 6.6	37–40	37–40	Retrospective
3	Labazhuoma	2018	2015.2–2017.1	40/40	28.7 ± 2.2	28.3 ± 2.6	35.8 ± 0.6	35.3 ± 0.4	Retrospective
4	Wangshaomei	2014	2012.3–2013.3	50/50	27.1 ± 3.2	27.3 ± 5.1	35.1 ± 1.1	36.2 ± 1.1	Retrospective
5	Chenxujun	2011	2004.1–2008.9	30/30	27.42 ± 7.53	28.35 ± 6.84	20–40	20–40	Retrospective
6	Caiying	2015	2012.1–2015.1	19/18	27.5 ± 4.6	28.2 ± 5.1	NR	NR	Retrospective
7	Liuhaihong	2018	2017.3–2018.3	32/32	29.1 ± 1.2	29.2 ± 1.3	38.8 ± 4.3	38.7 ± 4.5	Retrospective
8	Yuhongyan	2019	2017.3–2019.3	46/46	26.4 ± 3.5	26.3 ± 3.2	36.3 ± 1.2	36.2 ± 1.3	Retrospective
9	Xiaojie	2018	2017.4–2018.4	48/48	28.72 ± 2.25	28.67 ± 2.26	38.96 ± 2.13	38.88 ± 2.11	Retrospective
10	Songjie	2019	2016.2–2017.11	17/17	27.43 ± 2.5	28.25 ± 1.9	38.25 ± 1.27	38.17 ± 1.38	Retrospective

NR: not reported.

3.3. Meta-Analysis Results

3.3.1. Effective Rate of Induction of Labour

All 10 studies reported an effective rate of induction of labour in the two groups. No marked heterogeneity existed (I2 = 0%; P = 0.949), so the fixed effects model was employed for analysis. Overall results showed a significant difference between the two groups (OR = 4.37; 95% CI: 2.73, 7.00), and an effective rate of induction of labour in the intervention group was 4.37 times that in the control group (Figure 2).

Figure 2

Forest plot of induction of labour in the two groups.

3.4. Amount of Postpartum Hemorrhage

Seven studies compared PPH amounts between the groups. There was marked heterogeneity in PPH amount (I2 = 93%; P < 0.001), so a random-effects model was used for analysis. Overall results showed that the PPH amount in the intervention group was less than that in the control group (SMD = −1.32; 95% CI: −2.05, −0.59) (Figure 3).

Figure 3

Forest plot of amount of postpartum hemorrhage in the two groups.

3.5. Publication Bias

Due to the small number of the included literature with an effective rate of induction of labour and PPH amount, a publication bias was considered by default and no funnel plot was prepared.

3.6. Sensitivity Analysis

Sensitivity analysis of the effective rate of induction of labour in 10 studies revealed a low sensitivity, suggesting stable meta-analysis results (OR = 4.37, 95% CI: 2.73, 7.00) (Figure 4). Sensitivity analysis of PPH in 7 studies showed no change in effect size (SMD = −1.32, 95% CI: −2.05, −0.59), indicating robust and credible meta-analysis results (Figure 5).

Figure 4

Sensitivity analysis of the effective rate of induction of labour.

Figure 5

Sensitivity analysis of postpartum hemorrhage.

4. Discussion

In China, the prevalence of HDP is estimated to be 5–12% [3]. During delivery, HDP patients are prone to systemic small vessel spasms and blood pressure rises rapidly, leading to serious surgical accidents. Therefore, they are given drugs to relax uterine smooth muscle and to lower blood pressure. However, during delivery, there is a need to enhance uterine contractility, thus promoting fetal delivery and preventing PPH [22]. Among the two common methods of labour induction, mechanical induction is often performed through a transcervical Foley catheter to dilate the cervix, while prostaglandins and oxytocin are commonly used in medical induction. Due to its advantages including low cost and easy preservation, misoprostol is widely used in clinical practice. However, its clinical efficacy in the induction of labour in HDP patients remains unclear. Hence, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the application of misoprostol for induction of labour in HDP patients.

Our systematic review included 10 clinical trials involving 1087 pregnant women. We found that the effective rate of induction of labour in the intervention group was significantly higher than in the control group. Cervical maturity is essential to the successful induction of labour, that is, good cervical ripening predicts successful delivery [23]. Relevant studies have demonstrated that misoprostol can promote cervical ripening in patients in the third trimester of pregnancy. Its specific mechanism may be as follows: first, misoprostol decomposes and dissolves extracellular collagen, subsequently changing the composition of the collagen and consequently softening the cervix; second, misoprostol acts on the cervix and uterus smooth muscles to dilate the cervix, contract the uterine body smooth muscles and to pull the cervix; third, misoprostol promotes the formation of gap junctions between the uterine smooth muscle cells, thus promoting cervical ripening to achieve successful induction of labour [22].

Among the 10 included articles, 7 studies compared the PPH between the intervention and control groups. The results showed that PPH in the intervention group was less than in the control group. PPH is the leading cause of maternal death, accounting for about a quarter of all global maternal deaths, and poses a serious threat to maternal and child health, especially in resource-poor countries [23]. The main cause of PPH is inadequate uterine contraction, accounting for approximately 70% of the primary PPH [24]. Misoprostol has been used for more than a decade in routine vaginal delivery to prevent PPH. Its effects on increasing uterine tension and blood pressure have been determined and have been shown to effectively close the blood vessels and sinusoids with intrauterine hemorrhage. It is effective for the treatment of PPH in HDP patients, especially for PPH resulting from uterine atony [25]. Our analysis also confirmed that misoprostol is effective in reducing the amount of hemorrhage.

This meta-analysis has some limitations. First, because the number of the included literature is small, further evidence may change the effect estimation of the results. Second, the current evidence is incomplete, especially the optimal dose of misoprostol. This meta-analysis includes trials on pregnant women with different doses of misoprostol for induction of labour (ranged between 0.02 mg and 0.2 mg) but the relationship between the optimal dose and outcomes is not clear. To elucidate this relationship, further large randomized trials are required. Third, no studies with blank control are included in this meta-analysis; this reduces the accuracy. Fourth, this meta-analysis included studies from China only and may not accurately represent the global population.

In summary, misoprostol has a high success rate of induction of labour in HDP patients and is an effective uterotonic agent in reducing PPH. Collectively, this drug can ensure safe delivery in HDP patients and therefore worth promoting clinically. However, since this meta-analysis included studies from China only, application of the results in other countries and races requires further verification.