[Blood coagulation parameters in prostaglandin-induced labour after intrauterine fetal death (author's transl)].

Pregnancy termination by the intraamniotic injection of hypertonic saline may result in coagulation defects. This complication seems to be uncommon with prostaglandins. The present study was designed to elucidate any possible effects of prostaglandin administration on coagulation parameters in patients with fetal death in utero. Labour was induced in 20 cases of intrauterine fetal death by either intravenous (11) or intramuscular (9) administration of Sulprostone. Normotest, thrombin clotting time, ethanol fractionation, fibrinogen level and platelet count were obtained in each patient prior to and immediately after drug administration. Although retention of the fetus for as long as 84 days was recorded (mean 14 days), no patient presented with abnormal clotting parameters. Prostaglandin induction was successful in all 20 cases. After explosion of the fetus, coagulation parameters were not significantly different from pretreatment values. Estimated blood loss never exceeded 500 cc. It is concluded that intramuscular or intravenous administration of Sulprostone for induction of labour in fetal death in utero does not affect the clotting system nor trigger off disseminated intravascular coagulation.