[Termination of early pregnancy using RU 486 alone or in combination with prostaglandin. The RU 486 Collaboration...

Abortion was attempted in 316 healthy women in early pregnancy within 7 weeks with the RU486 alone (600mg in a single oral dose) or in combination with a PG (15-dl-methyl-PGF2 alpha-methyl-ester) 1 mg suppository. The result of using RU 486 alone in 204 women was complete abortion 65.2%, incomplete 3.4% and continued pregnancy 31.4%. While RU486 and PG in 112 women resulted in complete abortion 87.5%, incomplete 8.9% and continued pregnancy 3.6%. The complete abortion rate of RU486 and PG was significantly higher than that of the RU486 alone (P less than 0.01). In RU486 and PG group, the measured mean blood loss after complete abortion (52.0 ml) was much less than in the RU486 alone (177.4ml). The main side-effects were nausea vomiting and headache. The RU486 and PG is an effective and safe agent for termination of early pregnancy. However, it should be used only under close medical supervision.