Missed abortion, hydatidiform mole and intra-uterine fetal death treated with 15-methyl-prostaglandin F 2-alpha

The efficacy of (15S)-15-methyl-prostaglandin F2 alpha in terminating pregnancy in cases of known missed abortion, hydatidiform mole and intra-uterine fetal death was tested. There were 8 cases of missed abortion, 13 cases of intra-uterine death at or after 28 weeks' gestation, and 1 case of hydatidiform mole. No other oxytoxic preparation was required in 19 (86%) patients. The mean induction-to-delivery time was 17,2 hours in the group with missed abortions and 12,4 hours in the group with intra-uterine deaths, and the maximum blood loss was 350 ml. Gastro-intestinal side-effects, which were present in 21 (95%) patients, were severe in 5 (23%).