Unsuccessful treatment of missed abortion with a combination of an antiprogesterone and a prostaglandin E1 analogue

In a prospective clinical trial the effectiveness of a combination of 400 mg of mifepristone (antiprogesterone) and 400 g misoprostol (synthetic prostaglandin E₁ analogue), both taken orally, was evaluated for the treatment of missed abortion. Of the 31 patients included, 16 (52%) had an empty uterine cavity at follow up six days after inclusion, 11 (35%) required surgical evacuation for retained intrauterine products of conception found at follow up, and four (13%) required emergency surgical evacuation due to severe pain or bleeding. The results do not support the use of mifepristone and misoprostol for women wishing the miscarriage to be resolved quickly.