Uterine activity after oral mifepristone administration in human pregnancies beyond 41 weeks' gestation
Michael J Fassett1, Deborah A Wing
1Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Michael.J.Fassett@kp.org
Background/Aim:
To examine the effect of oral mifepristone on uterine activity in postterm human pregnancies.
Methods:
As part of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial comparing 200 mg oral mifepristone to placebo for preinduction cervical ripening in women with well-dated pregnancies beyond 41 weeks' gestation with unfavorable cervices, uterine activity was continuously recorded with external tocodynamometry and contraction frequency tabulated.
Results:
Ninety-seven women received mifepristone and 83 women received placebo. Uterine activity (uterine contractions/hour) was greater in the mifepristone than in the placebo group between 7 h (8.03 +/- 0.48 vs. 5.90 +/- 0.39, p = 0.001) and 24 h (8.53 +/- 0.68 vs. 6.61 +/- 0.46, p = 0.02) after dosing.
Conclusion:
Oral mifepristone administration to women with pregnancies beyond 41 weeks increases uterine activity in the absence of externally administered uterotonic agents.
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