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Reproductive outcome after early miscarriage : comparing vaginal misoprostol treatment with expectant management in a planned secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial

Fernlund, A. LU ; Jokubkiene, L. LU ; Sladkevicius, P. LU orcid and Valentin, L. LU orcid (2022) In Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology 59(1). p.100-106
Abstract

Objective: To compare the reproductive outcome after early miscarriage between women managed expectantly and those treated with vaginal misoprostol. Methods: This study was a planned secondary analysis of data collected prospectively in a randomized controlled trial comparing expectant management with vaginal misoprostol treatment (single dose of 800 µg) in women with early embryonic or anembryonic miscarriage and vaginal bleeding. The outcome measures were the number of women with a clinical pregnancy conceived within 14 months after complete miscarriage and the outcome of these pregnancies in terms of live birth, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy and legal termination of pregnancy. The participants replied to a questionnaire sent by post... (More)

Objective: To compare the reproductive outcome after early miscarriage between women managed expectantly and those treated with vaginal misoprostol. Methods: This study was a planned secondary analysis of data collected prospectively in a randomized controlled trial comparing expectant management with vaginal misoprostol treatment (single dose of 800 µg) in women with early embryonic or anembryonic miscarriage and vaginal bleeding. The outcome measures were the number of women with a clinical pregnancy conceived within 14 months after complete miscarriage and the outcome of these pregnancies in terms of live birth, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy and legal termination of pregnancy. The participants replied to a questionnaire sent by post covering their reproductive history ≤ 14 months after the index miscarriage was complete. Supplementary information and data for women who did not return their questionnaire were retrieved from medical records. Results: Of 94 women randomized to misoprostol treatment and 95 allocated to expectant management, 94 and 90 women, respectively, were included for analysis. Information on reproductive outcome was available for 89/94 (95%) and 83/90 (92%) women, respectively. Complete miscarriage without surgical evacuation was achieved within 31 days in 85% (76/89) of the women in the misoprostol group and in 65% (54/83) of those managed expectantly. The proportion of women treated with surgical evacuation was 33% (27/83) in the expectant-management group vs 12% (11/89) in the misoprostol group. At 14 months after the index miscarriage was complete, 75% (67/89) of women treated with misoprostol and 75% (62/83) of those managed expectantly had achieved at least one clinical pregnancy, while 40% (36/89) and 35% (29/83), respectively, had had at least one live birth (mean difference, 5.5% (95% CI, −9.7 to 20.3%)). When considering the outcome of all pregnancies conceived within 14 months after the index miscarriage was complete, 63% (56/89) of women in the misoprostol group and 55% (46/83) of those in the expectant-management group delivered a live baby after a pregnancy (mean difference, 7.5% (95% CI, −7.9 to 22.4%)). Conclusion: Women with early miscarriage can be reassured that fertility is similar after misoprostol treatment and expectant management.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
volume
59
issue
1
pages
7 pages
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • pmid:34523740
  • scopus:85122308060
ISSN
0960-7692
DOI
10.1002/uog.24769
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f5189f5a-8fec-46ca-ae24-cb6ff352d08d
date added to LUP
2022-02-28 14:06:26
date last changed
2024-06-08 14:50:39
@article{f5189f5a-8fec-46ca-ae24-cb6ff352d08d,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objective: To compare the reproductive outcome after early miscarriage between women managed expectantly and those treated with vaginal misoprostol. Methods: This study was a planned secondary analysis of data collected prospectively in a randomized controlled trial comparing expectant management with vaginal misoprostol treatment (single dose of 800 µg) in women with early embryonic or anembryonic miscarriage and vaginal bleeding. The outcome measures were the number of women with a clinical pregnancy conceived within 14 months after complete miscarriage and the outcome of these pregnancies in terms of live birth, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy and legal termination of pregnancy. The participants replied to a questionnaire sent by post covering their reproductive history ≤ 14 months after the index miscarriage was complete. Supplementary information and data for women who did not return their questionnaire were retrieved from medical records. Results: Of 94 women randomized to misoprostol treatment and 95 allocated to expectant management, 94 and 90 women, respectively, were included for analysis. Information on reproductive outcome was available for 89/94 (95%) and 83/90 (92%) women, respectively. Complete miscarriage without surgical evacuation was achieved within 31 days in 85% (76/89) of the women in the misoprostol group and in 65% (54/83) of those managed expectantly. The proportion of women treated with surgical evacuation was 33% (27/83) in the expectant-management group vs 12% (11/89) in the misoprostol group. At 14 months after the index miscarriage was complete, 75% (67/89) of women treated with misoprostol and 75% (62/83) of those managed expectantly had achieved at least one clinical pregnancy, while 40% (36/89) and 35% (29/83), respectively, had had at least one live birth (mean difference, 5.5% (95% CI, −9.7 to 20.3%)). When considering the outcome of all pregnancies conceived within 14 months after the index miscarriage was complete, 63% (56/89) of women in the misoprostol group and 55% (46/83) of those in the expectant-management group delivered a live baby after a pregnancy (mean difference, 7.5% (95% CI, −7.9 to 22.4%)). Conclusion: Women with early miscarriage can be reassured that fertility is similar after misoprostol treatment and expectant management.</p>}},
  author       = {{Fernlund, A. and Jokubkiene, L. and Sladkevicius, P. and Valentin, L.}},
  issn         = {{0960-7692}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{100--106}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology}},
  title        = {{Reproductive outcome after early miscarriage : comparing vaginal misoprostol treatment with expectant management in a planned secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/uog.24769}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/uog.24769}},
  volume       = {{59}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}