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Abstract
Objectives To compare the efficacy of repeated doses of 100 μg vs. 200 μg misoprostol given sublingually for induction of second trimester abortion.
Methods One hundred and sixty-two women at 15–22 weeks' gestation were randomized to receive every 2 h either 100 μg (group 1; n = 81) or 200 μg (group 2; n = 81) misoprostol sublingually. The primary outcome measure was the abortion rate within 24 h. The secondary outcome measures were the induction-abortion interval, the total misoprostol dose required, and side effects of the regimen.
Results There was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to the abortion rates within 12 h (43.2% in group 1 vs. 48.1% in group 2; p = 0.52; relative risk [RR]: 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.4–1.5) and 24 h (92.6% in group 1 vs. 91.4% in group 2; p = 0.77; RR: 1.11; 95% CI: 0.37–3.6). The induction-abortion intervals in the two groups were of similar length (885 minutes in group 1 vs. 912 minutes in group 2; p = 0.72). When the total dose of misoprostol was compared between the two groups, women belonging to group 2 on average had received significantly more misoprostol than those in group 1 (1274 ± 592 μg [7 ± 3 doses] vs. 614 ± 432 μg [6 ± 4 doses], respectively; p = 0.000).
Conclusions Sublingual administration of repeated doses of 100 μg misoprostol for abortion induction appears to be equally effective to that of repeated doses of 200 μg.