[Prostaglandins for termination of pregnancy in the 2d and 3d trimester]. / Prostaglandine zur Schwangerschaftsbeendigung im 2. und 3. Trimenon.

38 abnormal pregnancies in the second and third trimenon have been terminated by a combined therapy of natural prostaglandine, locally applied for ripening the cervix, followed by systemic application of synthetic prostaglandine of the third generation Sulproston. 8 pregnancies have been terminated only after ripening the portio with prostaglandine vaginal tablets. The other 30 women were injected with 500 micrograms Sulproston intramuscular after local priming. All the pregnancies were terminated by this procedure. In 25 cases the effective dose was 500 micrograms, three times 1000 micrograms, once 1500 and 2000 micrograms. 13 women suffered from side effects like vomiting and pain, which could be treated easily. In 27 cases the abortion took place within 20 hours after the first application of Sulproston. Our procedure obviously has a very good labour inducing effect and seems to be the ideal method for inducing artificial abortion.

[Beta-blockers for tocolysis--comparative study of celiprolol and metoprolol]. / beta-Blocker zur Tokolyse--vergleichende Studie von Celiprolol und Metoprolol.

An open comparative trial studied the action of celiprolol and metoprolol (oral) on hemodynamic parameters during parenteral long-term tocolysis with 0.1 microgram/min of hexoprenaline. The observation period covered the critical first phase of tocolysis of 48 hours. No statistically significant difference was found between the two treatment groups, but metoprolol showed a more beneficial influence on the undesirable hemodynamic effects of the tocolysis, as fall of the blood pressure and increase of the heart rate. The ISA and an additional vasodilative effect together with the beta 1-selectivity of celiprolol are supposed to be the cause for this statistically not significant difference. We think that beta-blockers with a clinically relevant ISA are less suitable for the antagonization of the cardiovascular effects of the beta 2-stimulation than such without an intrinsic activity.