Clinical use of prostaglandins.

Abstract

The Upjohn Company held a meeting at Kalamazoo, Michigan during June 1972 to discuss the clinical use of prostaglandins (PG) in the induction of labor, the termination of pregnancy, and the regulation of menstruation. Clinicians from many parts of the world presented their findings at the meeting. Several trials were reported in which PGE2 and PGF2alpha were compared in the induction of labor, using a double-blind technique. Although many workers were able to report on only a small number of patients, Professor S.M.M. Karim of Uganda presented data on induction of labor in 1500 women over 2 years with both PGE2 and PGF2alpha. Karim reported more successes than other workers with the intravenous route of administration. Using this route severe gastrointestinal side effects were found in some patients. The early work of Karim and Max Bygdeman et al. (Stockholm), using intravenous infusion of PGF2alpha and PGE2 to induce abortion, was marked by severe gastrointestinal side effects, and new routes of administration have been developed. These new routes are administration of prostaglandins by intrauterine infusion, using a cannula which is placed either extra- or intra-amniotically, and a transabdominal intra-amniotic route. Another route of administration is intravaginal application, either in the form of tampons or pessaries. The final paper was on the possible use of prostaglandins to regulate menstruation. The "once-a-month pill" using prostaglandins to regulate menstruation is a long way from being a practicality.