Intravaginal isosorbide dinitrate or misoprostol for cervical ripening prior to induction of labour: a randomised controlled trial.

In this randomised double-blind controlled trial, 130 healthy pregnant women with term pregnancy who scheduled for labour induction with Bishop's score < 5, were recruited. They were assigned randomly to vaginal administration of isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) (40 mg) or misoprostol (25 µg), which were repeated after 4 h as needed. The efficacies of medications were evaluated by predetermined primary and secondary outcome variables for cervical ripening and induction of labour and delivery. There was no significant difference in Bishop's score 8 h after drug administration between the ISDN and misoprostol groups. However, in the ISDN group, labour induction was needed more frequently and the time from start of medication to the beginning of active phase of labour was significantly longer.