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Comparison of Abortions Induced by Methotrexate or Mifepristone Followed by Misoprostol

From the Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC; Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario; University of Laval, Laval, Quebec; Family Planning Clinic, University of Quebec, Quebec, Quebec; University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec; and University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Address reprint requests to: Ellen Wiebe, MD, University of British Columbia, Department of Family Practice, 1013 - 750 West Broadway, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 1H9, Canada; E-mail: ewiebe{at}interchange.ubc.ca.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness, side effects, and acceptability of medical abortions induced by methotrexate and misoprostol with abortions induced by mifepristone and misoprostol.

METHODS: This was a multicenter, randomized, non-blinded, controlled trial comparing 50 mg/m² of methotrexate followed 4–6 days later by 800 µg of vaginal misoprostol with 600 mg of oral mifepristone followed 36–48 hours by 400 µg of oral misoprostol.

RESULTS: There were 518 women in the methotrexate group and 524 women in the mifepristone group. In the methotrexate group, 21 women required suction curretage, two for continuing pregnancy, eight because of physician request (usually for excessive bleeding), and 11 because of patient request. In the mifepristone group, 22 women needed surgical termination, 17 because of physician request, and five because of patient request. By day 8, only 386 (74.5%) in the methotrexate group had completed the abortion compared with 474 (90.5%) in the mifepristone group, and the mean number of days from beginning to completion was 7.1 for methotrexate and 3.3 for mifepristone (P .001). There were no differences in complications, and side effects were similar. Acceptance was slightly higher with mifepristone (88.0%) than with methotrexate (83.2%).

CONCLUSION: Abortions induced with mifepristone completed faster than those induced with methotrexate, but the overall success rates, side effects, and complications were similar. Acceptance rates were slightly higher with mifepristone than methotrexate (P = .03).

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				D. A. Grimes and M. D. Creinin Induced Abortion: An Overview for Internists Ann Intern Med, April 20, 2004; 140(8): 620 - 626. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]