RESUMO
PIP: Vaginal suppositories containing 15(S)15-methyl-PGF2alpha-methyl ester (prostaglandin, PG) were tested for legal abortion of pregnancies (36-60 days after last menstrual period) in 42 women; 4 suppositories each containing 1 or 1.5 mg of PG were given every 3 hours. Serum levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), estradiol-17 beta, and progesterone were measured before and up to 3 weeks after the abortion. Blood loss during, after, and during a menstrual period 2-4 months after the abortion (in 30 women) was determined. Abortion without retention of major products of conception occurred in 93% of the cases. However, 18% of these successful cases had a slow decline in HCG, indicating incomplete expulsion of viable chorionic tissue. Average blood loss was 37 ml during the 1st 24 hours after insertion, with an additional loss of 94 ml in the next 11 days (range, 5-25 days). Heavy blood loss after abortion was significantly related to slow decline in serum HCG. Later menstrual flow was strikingly heavy overall (mean, 74 ml). There was no difference in efficacy or incidence of slow HCG decline between the PG dose of 1 mg and 1.5 mg, but side effects of uterine pain, vomiting, and diarrhea (50% overall, in no case severe) were more marked with the 1.5-mg dose.^ieng