Hypokalemia and cardiac arrhythmia associated with prostaglandin-induced abortion

Experience with 1 patient undergoing second trimester therapeutic abortion induced by prostaglandin F2alpha administration is described. Serious hypokalemia in association with cardiac arrhythmia followed intraamniotic administration of the drug. Further observations on a group of normal subjects receiving prostaglandin injections for induction of abortion showed a small but significant serum hypokalemia after treatment.