[Administration of 15-(S)-15-methyl prostaglandins F2 alpha in intrauterine fetal death, missed abortion and hydatidiform mole (author's transl)].

10 patients with missed abortion, intrauterine fetal death or hydatifidiform mole were given 15-(S)-15-methyl prostaglandin F2 alpha intramuscularly for the induction of labour or, in 2 cases, to obtain softening of the cervix prior to curettage. The mean time interval between induction and abortion was 6 h 9 min, with a mean dosage of 890 mcg prostaglandin per patient. Vomiting or diarrhoea occurred in 7 patients. Apart from a drop in haemoglobin concentration in 1 patient and a temporary increase in white cell count in 6 patients, no other pathological laboratory findings were detected. We conclude from these results and the relevant literature that the intramuscular administration of 15-(S)-15-methyl prostaglandin is an effective and safe means of inducing labour in missed abortion, intrauterine fetal death and hydratidiform mole.