Induction of labour in nulliparous and multiparous women: a UK, multicentre, open-label study of intravaginal misoprostol in comparison with dinoprostone.

Author(s): Calder AA, Loughney AD, Weir CJ, Barber JW

Affiliation(s): Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.

Publication date & source: 2008-09, BJOG., 115(10):1279-88.

Publication type: Comparative Study; Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of a 25-microgram vaginal tablet of misoprostol (APL202) with dinoprostone (3-mg vaginal tablet) in cervical ripening and labour induction. DESIGN: A randomised, open-label, noninferiority, comparative study in two maternal populations. SETTING: Eighteen NHS study centres across the UK. POPULATION: Nulliparous or multiparous women with a singleton pregnancy eligible for induction of labour. METHODS: Women were randomised to receive either misoprostol, initially 25 micrograms (50 micrograms in nulliparous women with Bishop score < or =4) followed by 25 micrograms after 4 and 8 hours, or dinoprostone, initially 3 mg followed by 3 mg after 6 hours. Clinical noninferiority of misoprostol was defined as an absolute difference between treatments of no more than 10% for the primary outcome. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The number of vaginal deliveries achieved within 24 hours of labour induction. Maternal and fetal safety outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 626 women were randomised to misoprostol (n = 318) or dinoprostone (n = 308) treatment. The rate of vaginal deliveries achieved within 24 hours of induction did not significantly differ between the misoprostol and dinoprostone (43 versus 47%; 3.74% difference, 95% CI -3.58 to 11.05, respectively) treatment groups. The treatments were generally comparable for other secondary efficacy measures. Maternal and fetal adverse events were similarly distributed across the misoprostol and dinoprostone groups. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose misoprostol is efficacious in cervical ripening and labour induction and demonstrates a similar fetal and maternal safety profile to dinoprostone.