Table 1.
Characteristics of studies
| Trial groups N=53 |
Evaluable women N=12829 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| n | % | n | % | |
| 3–100 | 27 | 51% | 1247 | 10% |
| 101–500 | 19 | 36% | 3472 | 27% |
| 501–720 | 5 | 9% | 2766 | 22% |
| 2805–3225 | 2 | 4% | 5344 | 42% |
| Lost to follow-up | ||||
| None | 39 | 74% | 4484 | 35% |
| ≤10% | 12 | 23% | 3001 | 23% |
| >10% | 2 | 4% | 5344 | 42% |
| Publication date | ||||
| 1994–1999 | 14 | 26% | 1609 | 13% |
| 2000–2004 | 14 | 26% | 5093 | 40% |
| 2005–2009 | 18 | 34% | 5237 | 41% |
| 2010-present | 7 | 13% | 890 | 7% |
| Study design | ||||
| randomized trial | 23 | 43% | 3315 | 26% |
| non-randomized prospective | 24 | 45% | 3527 | 27% |
| non-randomized retrospective | 6 | 11% | 5987 | 47% |
| Region | ||||
| Latin or South America | 11 | 21% | 7664 | 60% |
| North America | 11 | 21% | 1023 | 8% |
| Asia | 17 | 32% | 980 | 8% |
| other or multiple | 14 | 26% | 3162 | 25% |
| Planned maximum gestational age | ||||
| 42–56 days | 19 | 36% | 4173 | 33% |
| 57–63 days | 17 | 32% | 4563 | 36% |
| 64–70 days | 7 | 13% | 3247 | 25% |
| ≥71 days | 10 | 19% | 846 | 7% |
| First misoprostol dose and route | ||||
| 200 mcg vaginal | 2 | 4% | 111 | 1% |
| 400 mcg vaginal | 4 | 8% | 160 | 1% |
| 600 mcg vaginal | 1 | 2% | 89 | 1% |
| 800 mcg vaginal | 31 | 58% | 10010 | 78% |
| 800 mcg buccal | 3 | 6% | 584 | 5% |
| 800 mcg sublingual | 2 | 4% | 1021 | 8% |
| 800 mcg oral | 4 | 8% | 119 | 1% |
| 1000 mcg vaginal | 1 | 2% | 300 | 2% |
| 400 mcg vaginal + 400 mcg sublingual | 1 | 2% | 149 | 1% |
| 400 mcg vaginal + 400 mcg oral | 1 | 2% | 5 | 0% |
| 800 mcg vaginal + 400 mcg buccal | 1 | 2% | 98 | 1% |
| 800 mcg vaginal + 400 mcg sublingual | 1 | 2% | 76 | 1% |
| 800 mcg oral + 400 mcg sublingual | 1 | 2% | 107 | 1% |
| Misoprostol moistened before vaginal administration* | ||||
| no or not stated | 20 | 47% | 6543 | 59% |
| Yes | 23 | 53% | 4455 | 41% |
| Number of required doses | ||||
| 1 | 34 | 64% | 3598 | 28% |
| 2 | 7 | 13% | 3374 | 26% |
| 3 | 9 | 17% | 5651 | 44% |
| 4 | 2 | 4% | 186 | 1% |
| 5 | 1 | 2% | 20 | 0% |
| Duration of required dosing | ||||
| 0 (only 1 required dose) | 34 | 64% | 3598 | 28% |
| 1–24h | 16 | 30% | 6251 | 49% |
| 25–48h | 1 | 2% | 2900 | 23% |
| 73h-7d | 2 | 4% | 80 | 1% |
| Total number of allowed doses | ||||
| 1 | 5 | 9% | 330 | 3% |
| 2 | 11 | 21% | 3069 | 24% |
| 3 | 25 | 47% | 8059 | 63% |
| 4 | 5 | 9% | 458 | 4% |
| 5 | 1 | 2% | 20 | 0% |
| 6 | 6 | 11% | 893 | 7% |
| Maximum duration of dosing if all allowed contingent doses were taken | ||||
| 0 (only 1 dose allowed) | 5 | 9% | 330 | 3% |
| 1–24h | 19 | 36% | 4995 | 39% |
| 25–48h | 13 | 25% | 5682 | 44% |
| 49–72h | 4 | 8% | 269 | 2% |
| 73h-7d | 9 | 17% | 1155 | 9% |
| >7d | 3 | 6% | 398 | 3% |
| Protocol permitted patient to take misoprostol at home | ||||
| all | 9 | 17% | 5188 | 40% |
| some | 15 | 28% | 5483 | 43% |
| none | 29 | 55% | 2158 | 17% |
| Evaluated by ultrasound prior to decision to perform surgery | ||||
| all patients | 46 | 87% | 10199 | 79% |
| some or no patients | 7 | 13% | 2630 | 21% |
| Earliest timing of decision re. surgery | ||||
| ≤24h | 2 | 4% | 128 | 1% |
| 25–48h | 7 | 13% | 438 | 3% |
| 49–72h | 12 | 23% | 4685 | 37% |
| 73h-7d | 16 | 30% | 1864 | 15% |
| >7d | 16 | 30% | 5714 | 45% |
a
Denominator for percents include only trial groups and evaluable women who took the first dose by the vaginal route.