Early pregnancy-abortion model using sulprostone.

Sulprostone has been demonstrated to be effective as a parenteral abortifacient, but not as a vaginal suppository. A vaginal preparation was given to 19 women to determine its mechanism of action, and to confirm the principle of uterine conversion as a biological model for the induction of an early abortion. The drug was administered to women with confirmed pregnancies and amenorrhea and not exceeding 49 days. A 95% success rate was obtained with an incidence of drug related side effects of 20% as opposed to the general 80-90% figure of PGE2 and F2a. The hormone profile obtained revealed a parallel fall in hCG and estradiol, and progesterone. This study confirms the value of uterine conversion, a concept that describes the change in uterine reactivity following PG administration and determines the phase when uterine activity is no longer dependent on exogenous oxytocic medication.