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Volume 333:537-540 August 31, 1995 Number 9 Next

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ABSTRACT

Background Although medical termination of pregnancy is available in Europe and China as an alternative to surgical termination, political and social factors have blocked medical approaches to pregnancy termination in the United States. Methotrexate, which is toxic to trophoblastic tissue, has been used safely to treat unruptured ectopic pregnancies. This report describes the use of a single low dose of methotrexate followed by intravaginal misoprostol for the medical termination of early pregnancy.

Methods Women seeking termination of pregnancy were selected for this study on the basis of their good general health, emotional stability, and a pregnancy of 63 days or less in duration. Each woman received an intramuscular dose of methotrexate (50 mg per square meter of body-surface area). Five to seven days later, 800 µg of misoprostol was administered intravaginally. If abortion did not occur after seven days, the woman was offered a second dose of misoprostol or vacuum aspiration. Successful abortion was defined as a complete termination of pregnancy within seven days after the first or second administration of misoprostol.

Results A total of 171 of the 178 women enrolled in the study (96 percent) had successful medical abortions. Twenty-five women (14 percent) did not have an abortion after the first dose of misoprostol and received a second dose. Eighteen subsequently had complete abortions, but seven required suction curettage. In all seven women who required suction curettage, there was histologic evidence of disruption in the conceptus. No important side effects or complications were noted.

Conclusions The combination of methotrexate and misoprostol represents a safe and effective alternative to invasive methods for the termination of early pregnancy.

Source Information

From the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York.

Address reprint requests to Dr. Hausknecht at 1075 Park Ave., New York, NY 10128.

Full Text of this Article

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Methotrexate and Misoprostol to Terminate Early Pregnancy
Perrone J., Hoffman R. S., Yankowitz J., Niebyl J. R., Grunberg S. M., Swanson K. T., Levitt N., Hausknecht R.
Extract | Full Text  
N Engl J Med 1996; 334:399-400, Feb 8, 1996. Correspondence

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