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Home-Based Extended Low-Dose Oral Misoprostol in Management of First-Trimester Pregnancy Loss in Low-Resource Communities: A Randomized Trial

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Abstract

Objective

To investigate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of a home-based extended low-dose oral misoprostol for management of first-trimester pregnancy loss.

Materials and Methods

A randomized trial that was conducted in the Woman’s Health University Hospital and El-eman Maternity Hospital, Assiut, Egypt. One hundred and sixty patients were included. They were randomly assigned to receive four tablets of 200 μg misoprostol vaginally (max. 800 μg-hospital group) or 12 tablets orally, one every 3 h, over 2 consecutive days (max. 2400 μg-extended low-dose home group). For failed first dose, another similar second dose was given. Primary outcome measure was the percentage of patients with ‘medically completed miscarriages’ in each group (including complete miscarriages + incomplete miscarriages with successful post-miscarriage misoprostol).

Results

The total number of patients with ‘medically completed miscarriages’ in home group was 65/79 (82.3%), which was comparable to the hospital group (52/71 or 73.2%) (P = 0.182). However, the majority of patients in home group had significantly successful miscarriages after a single course of low-dose oral misoprostol, experienced much less heavy bleeding attacks and had less systemic side effects.

Conclusion

In low-resource communities, the home-based extended low-dose oral misoprostol protocol proved high efficacy, safety and tolerability in management of first-trimester pregnancy loss.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Woman’s Health Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71116, Egypt

    Ayman H. Shaamash (Professor and Consultant), E. A. Khlifah & A. M. Esmail

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, El eman Hospital, Ministry of Health, Assiut City, Egypt

    SH. G. Abdelmonem

Authors
  1. Ayman H. Shaamash
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  2. E. A. Khlifah
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  3. A. M. Esmail
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  4. SH. G. Abdelmonem
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ayman H. Shaamash.

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All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

Obtained approval of the ethical review committees of the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Assiut College of Medicine.

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Informed consent was obtained.

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Dr. Ayman H. Shaamash, Professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Consultant at Woman’s Health Hospital, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. E. A. Khlifah, Professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Consultant at Woman’s Health Hospital, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. A. M. Esmail, Professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Consultant at Woman’s Health Hospital, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. SH. G. Abdelmonem, Resident at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, El eman Hospital, Ministry of Health, Assiut City, Egypt.

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Shaamash, A.H., Khlifah, E.A., Esmail, A.M. et al. Home-Based Extended Low-Dose Oral Misoprostol in Management of First-Trimester Pregnancy Loss in Low-Resource Communities: A Randomized Trial. J Obstet Gynecol India 69, 501–508 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-019-01247-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-019-01247-x

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