Cates W, Grimes DA, Haber RJ, Tyler CW. Abortion deaths associated with the use of prostaglandin F2alpha.
Am J Obstet Gynecol 1977;
127:219-22. [PMID:
835615 DOI:
10.1016/0002-9378(77)90456-2]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Six abortion-related deaths associated with the use of prostaglandin F2alpha were reported through the Center for Disease Control's surveillance of abortion deaths between 1972 and 1975. Prostaglandin may have had only indirect association with these deaths. The patients' ages ranged from 16 to 38 years, their length of gestation ranged from 15 to 24 menstrual weeks, four were white, and three were nulliparous. Four patients had pre-existing conditions that increased their risks and contributed to their death. The estimated death-to-case rate for prostaglandin F2alpha was 10.5 per 100,000 abortions. Although lower than the rate for intra-amniotic saline instillation, this death-to-case rate is only an approximation. The relative safety of intra-amniotic prostaglandin F2alpha as a second-trimester abortifacient, compared to saline, remains to be established.
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