A Study of Different Doses of Sublingual Misoprostol After Oral Mifepristone in Medical Termination of Pregnancy

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Though Mifepristone-Misoprostol combination is well established for early pregnancy termination, the optimal Misoprostol dose is still under much debate. AIMS: To compare the efficacy of sublingual 400µg Misoprostol and 800µg Misoprostol after oral 200mg Mifepristone in achieving complete abortion, to study the induction abortion interval, complications and adverse effects seen with both groups. Setting 100 antenatal women requesting for medical termination of pregnancy of upto 63 days of gestation in ESI Medical College and Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Karnataka in India. Design A Prospective Observational study. METHODS AND MATERIAL: Study population was randomized into 2 groups of 50 patients each. Both groups received 200 mg Mifepristone. Twenty four hours later, Group A received 400µg sublingual Misoprostol and Group B received 800 µg sublingual Misoprostol. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome analyzed in this study is the efficacy of the two regimens in achieving complete abortion. Secondary outcome measures are Induction to Abortion interval and adverse effects like pain abdomen, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever and chills. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Averages and proportions were calculated for the study and appropriate statistical tests like Chi Square Test, Fischer Exact Test and Student T Test were done using MiniTab version 16. RESULTS: Administration of 400µg sublingual Misoprostol 24 hours after 200 mg of Mifepristone has complete medical abortion rates comparable with 800µg sublingual Misoprostol with significantly lesser side effects. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, administration of 400µg sublingual Misoprostol after 200 mg of Mifepristone has complete medical abortion rates comparable with 800µg sublingual Misoprostol with significantly lesser side effects. However further research with different doses and routes of administration of Misoprostol in required in a larger study population.

Comparative study of combination of misoprostol with Foley’s bulb compared with misoprostol alone for termination of second trimester pregnancy

“…It binds to myometrial cells to cause strong myometrial contractions leading to expulsion of tissue. 12 It has been proposed and researched that combined use of intracervical Foley's catheter and vaginal misoprostol is a novel safe, effective and acceptable method for termination of second trimester pregnancy. 8…”