[A new therapeutic approach for terminating intact and disturbed pregnancies: three years of experience with the prostaglandin E2-derivative sulprostone (SHB 286) (author's transl)].

Sulprostone, a new synthetic prostaglandin E2-derivate has been tested for artificial abortion in 628 women with intact or disturbed pregnancies in all stages of gestation. Compared with other prostaglandins used for this purpose systemic side-effects were low and success-rate was high. Systemic routes of application (constant intravenous drop infusion, intramuscular injection) were evaluted to be more successful and conventient than the local ones (extra- and intraamniotic). Suppositories showed no clinical success. Based on our expereince recommendations for the treatment with sulprostone are given: Intramuscular injections for inducing early abortion or menstrual regulation (less than 6th week of pregnancy) without necessity of curettage and for cervical rpiening (less than 12th week of pregnancy) prior to curettage, constant intravenous drop infusion for induction of abortion in second and third trimester pregnancy.