Studies on platelet function during different modes of administration of PgF2alpha in obstetrics and gynecology

Platelet function has been studied during intravenous, intraamniotic, and extraamniotic administration of prostaglandin F2alpha (PgF2alpha) for termination of missed abortion and missed labor, for therapeutic abortion, and for induction of term labor. The controls received oxytocin i.v. (missed labor and term labor). Our investigations have shown that there was a normalization of the increased spontaneous platelet aggregation and a significant reduction of ADP- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation in the groups given PgF2alpha i.v. The desaggregation in these groups was increased. The other groups given PgF2alpha showed no significant changes in platelet function. Inducing labor by oxytocin we found a tendency to increased platelet aggregation and decreased desaggregation. The clinical importance of these findings and the consequences for hemostasis are discussed.