The efficacy and tolerance of mifepristone and prostaglandin in termination of pregnancy of less than 63 days gestation; UK Multicentre Study--final results.

This paper summarizes the final results of an open multicenter study in 13 hospital gynecological units in Scotland and England. In the study, 1018 pregnant women with up to 9 week amenorrhoea received 600 mg oral mifepristone followed 48 h later by vaginal gemeprost 1 mg for the induction of first trimester abortion. Outcome was measured by assessment of the frequency of complete abortion or the need for subsequent surgical evacuation. Tolerance was assessed in terms of pain, requirement for analgesia, bleeding, and other adverse effects. There was complete abortion in 94.8% (95%CI 93.4-96.2); surgical evacuation was performed in 5.2% of patients. There was no relationship between outcome and age of gestation on the day mifepristone was given. Seven women were given a transfusion. Narcotic analgesia was administered after gemeprost to 38.1% of nullipara and 10.7% of multipara. Mifepristone and prostaglandin is an effective and acceptable alternative to surgical termination of pregnancy in the early first trimester.