Biomaterial Database

Complications following prostaglandin F2alpha-induced midtrimester abortion. 1975

J H Duenhoelter, and N F Gant

Prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) was injected intraamniotically in 122 patients between 14 and 20 weeks' gestation in the dosage schedule recommended by the drug manufacturer to induce abortion. Significantly more multiparous (47.5%) than primagravida patients (21.5%) aborted within 16 hours, but the mean duration between PGF2alpha injection and abortion was not significantly different. Complications occurred in 52 (42.6%) patients and included: fall in hematocrit of more than 5 percentage points, failure to abort within 48 hours after injection, infection requiring antibiotic therapy, cervical laceration or fistula, and uterine rupture. The atypical dilatation and effacement of the cervix occurring with PGF2alpha-induced contractions may possibly lead to cervical incompetence with later pregnancies. Although the efficacy of PGF2alpha as an abortifacient is confirmed, the large complication rate with the procedure cannot be ignored.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007239	Infections	Invasion of the host organism by microorganisms or their toxins or by parasites that can cause pathological conditions or diseases.	Infection,Infection and Infestation,Infections and Infestations,Infestation and Infection,Infestations and Infections
D007267	Injections	Introduction of substances into the body using a needle and syringe.	Injectables,Injectable,Injection
D010121	Oxytocin	A nonapeptide hormone released from the neurohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, POSTERIOR). It differs from VASOPRESSIN by two amino acids at residues 3 and 8. Oxytocin acts on SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS, such as causing UTERINE CONTRACTIONS and MILK EJECTION.	Ocytocin,Pitocin,Syntocinon
D010298	Parity	The number of offspring a female has borne. It is contrasted with GRAVIDITY, which refers to the number of pregnancies, regardless of outcome.	Multiparity,Nulliparity,Primiparity,Parity Progression Ratio,Parity Progression Ratios,Ratio, Parity Progression,Ratios, Parity Progression
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011262	Pregnancy Trimester, Second	The middle third of a human PREGNANCY, from the beginning of the 15th through the 28th completed week (99 to 196 days) of gestation.	Midtrimester,Pregnancy, Second Trimester,Trimester, Second,Midtrimesters,Pregnancies, Second Trimester,Pregnancy Trimesters, Second,Second Pregnancy Trimester,Second Pregnancy Trimesters,Second Trimester,Second Trimester Pregnancies,Second Trimester Pregnancy,Second Trimesters,Trimesters, Second
D011460	Prostaglandins F	(9 alpha,11 alpha,13E,15S)-9,11,15-Trihydroxyprost-13-en-1-oic acid (PGF(1 alpha)); (5Z,9 alpha,11,alpha,13E,15S)-9,11,15-trihydroxyprosta-5,13-dien-1-oic acid (PGF(2 alpha)); (5Z,9 alpha,11 alpha,13E,15S,17Z)-9,11,15-trihydroxyprosta-5,13,17-trien-1-oic acid (PGF(3 alpha)). A family of prostaglandins that includes three of the six naturally occurring prostaglandins. All naturally occurring PGF have an alpha configuration at the 9-carbon position. They stimulate uterine and bronchial smooth muscle and are often used as oxytocics.	PGF
D002577	Uterine Cervical Diseases	Pathological processes of the UTERINE CERVIX.	Cervix Diseases,Cervical Disease, Uterine,Cervical Diseases, Uterine,Cervix Disease,Disease, Cervix,Disease, Uterine Cervical,Diseases, Cervix,Diseases, Uterine Cervical,Uterine Cervical Disease
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D005260	Female		Females