The RU 486 story: the French experience.

PIP: 60,000 women in France have received RU 486 and a prostaglandin to induce abortion. In the late 1980's, clinical researchers assessed the safety and effectiveness of 600 mg of oral RU 486 in 2040 French women. 2 days later, health workers either injected 0.25-0.5mg of sulprostone or inserted a 1mg vaginal suppository of gemeprost in 1964 women who had not yet aborted. 96% experienced complete abortions. Physicians needed to conduct either a vacuum aspiration of dilation and curettage on the other 4%. RU 486 was most successful with 0.5mg of sulprostone, but these women also experienced considerable vaginal bleeding and pain. Overall uterine bleeding occurred for 8.9 days. The researchers recommended that adequate medical facilities be accessible to women using this method. Mild side effects were nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Efficacy and safety matched those of other early abortion methods. In April 1991, a grand multiparous women who smoked heavily and received RU 486 and a prostaglandin died--the 1st reported RU 486 related death. RU 486 may be able to treat fibroids, endometriosis, premenstrual syndrome, meningioma, hypertension, adrenal cancer, glaucoma, some forms of Cushing's syndrome, and breast cancer. The US Food and Drug Administration forbade the commercial import of RU 486 in 1989, even though it deemed RU 486 safe and effective. FDA considered the antiabortion view of the Bush Administration when making this decision. It made this decision despite the fact that abortion was still legal. RU 486 should be available soon for use as an abortifacient in the UK, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland. These countries do not intent providing it to US women, however. Further the manufacturer is not willing to provide it to US researchers because it is afraid of antiabortion repercussions which may jeopardize WHO's approval of RU 486.^ieng