A comparative study of human chorionic gonadotropin, placebo, and bed rest for women with early threatened abortion.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the effect of hCG therapy with placebo or bed rest in women with threatened abortion.

DESIGN:

Random assignment, double-blind.

SETTING:

Community hospitals.

PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS:

Sixty-one women with viable pregnancies under 8 weeks' gestation on admission to hospital were randomly allocated to receive injections of hCG or placebo, or were advised to rest in bed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Abortion vs. continuation of pregnancy at 16 weeks' gestation.

RESULTS:

Thirty-one aborted: 6/20 on hCG, 10/21 on placebo, 15/20 on bed rest. hCG vs. bed rest, P < .01; placebo vs. bed rest, hCG vs. placebo--not significant. Plasma progesterone: continuing pregnancy > abortion, P < .01; continued with hCG vs. aborted on placebo, P < .001; continued with hCG vs. aborted with bed rest, P < .001. No significant differences in pregnancy/birth complications or infants' birth weight. Female/male ratio was 2:1.

CONCLUSIONS:

hCG is significantly better than bed rest.

• Authors: R F Harrison
• Journal: International journal of fertility and menopausal studies (Int J Fertil Menopausal Stud) 1993 May-Jun Vol. 38 Issue 3 Pg. 160-5 ISSN: 1069-3130 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8348164 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Chorionic Gonadotropin
• Progesterone

Topics

• Abortion, Threatened (drug therapy, therapy)
• Adult
• Bed Rest
• Birth Weight
• Chi-Square Distribution
• Chorionic Gonadotropin (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Trimester, First
• Progesterone (blood)
• Sex Ratio
• Treatment Outcome