[RU 486 (mifepristone) and therapeutic abortions in the second and third trimesters]. / RU 486 (mifépristone) et interruption volontaire de grossesse pour motif thérapeutique au deuxième et troisième trimestre.

RU 486 activity for therapeutic pregnancy termination through prostaglandin was studied in a controlled survey including 50 patients, in the second and third trimester of pregnancy (in conformity with the French law). Patients were randomly divided into two groups. The first one was administered orally 200 mg of RU 486, 48 hours before the first Sulprostone injection. The control group did not receive any RU 486. The mean duration between prostaglandin administration and miscarriage was significantly shorter in the RU 486 group (13.16 hours), than in the control group (23.16 hours). Women with RU 486 treatment needed less prostaglandin doses and, above all, had less prostaglandin secondary effects than the patients in the control group.

[Ambulatory monitoring and telephone transmission of uterine activity. Preliminary study on the evaluation of the TOKOS system]. / Monitorage ambulatoire et transmission téléphonique de l'activité utérine. Etude préliminaire sur l'évaluation du système TOKOS.

The authors compare 100 tracings of uterine contractions, recorded using a mobile monitoring apparatus with telephone output TOKOS System), with 100 tracings recorded using static equipment. The TOKOS system is useful in diagnosis of uterine contraction, being equivalent to the reference system. The TOKOS system is superior to the reference system in that it allows the intensity of the contractions to be evaluated. The TOKOS system is an original approach to maternal perception of uterine activity. Overall, 28% of contractions are identified by the patient. The authors conclude that the tracings produced by the TOKOS system are more reliable than maternal perception of uterine contractions.

[Management of triple pregnancies]. / Prise en charge des grossesses triples.

A retrospective study of triplet pregnancies is presented. Data concerning 24 triplet pregnancies which were followed up to delivery and for a period of 11 years afterwards at the Maternity Center of the Antoine Beclere Hospital, are analysed. Early diagnosis of triplet pregnancy leads to a strong prognostic indication for prematurity. This allows time to institute preventive measures principally by reducing maternal physical activity. Because of the establishment of specific prenatal surveillance of the mothers, the rate of prematurity in triplet pregnancies be notably lowered. The mean gestational age at delivery was 33.9 weeks. The use of corticosteroid therapy between 28 and 34 weeks of gestation seems to helps prevent hyaline membrane diseases. Delivery is performed by elective cesarean section. The perinatal mortality rate was 6%.