Mifepristone

In: Drugs · 1992 · vol. 44(4) , pp. 531–536 · doi:10.2165/00003495-199244040-00001 · PMID:1281069 · W2005779463
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Mifepristone (RU 486) has been investigated for its use in non-surgical abortion, labor induction, postcoital contraception, and treatment of conditions like meningiomas and endometriosis.

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This paper is a narrative review of mifepristone, summarizing its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties and its therapeutic potential, with coverage of clinical applications such as medical abortion and related regimens. It draws on a broad set of cited studies and includes discussions of efficacy, tolerance, and complications, but it does not present new primary data or a systematic review methodology. A stated limitation is that it is framed as an overall review of properties and therapeutic potential rather than an original clinical trial with prespecified outcomes. Relevance to endometriosis: the paper cites endocrine responses to long-term administration of the antiprogesterone RU 486 in patients with pelvic endometriosis, though its main focus is the general drug review of mifepristone.

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Voluntary interruption of pregnancy with mifepristone (RU 486) and a prostaglandin analogue. New England Journal of Medicine 322: 645–648, 1990 Stuenkel CA, Garzo VG, Morris S, Liu JH, Yen SS. Effects of the antiprogesterone RU 486 in the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Fertility and Sterility 53: 642–646, 1990 Swahn ML, Bygdeman M. The effect of the antiprogestin RU 486 on uterine contractility and sensitivity to prostaglandin and oxytocin. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 95: 126–134, 1988 UK Multicentre Trial. The efficacy and tolerence of mifepristone and prostaglandin in first trimester termination of pregnancy. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 97: 480–486, 1990 Urquhart DR, Templeton AA. Psychiatric morbidity and acceptability following medical and surgical methods of induced abortion. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 98: 396–399, 1991 Urquhart DR, Templeton AA. The use of mifepristone prior to prostaglandin-induced mid-trimester abortion. Human Reproduction 5: 883–886, 1990 Wolf JP, Chillik CF, Dubois C, Ulmann A, Raulieu EE, et al. Tolerence of perinidatory primate embryos to RU 486 exposure in vitro and in vivo. Contraception 41: 85–92, 1990 World Health Organization. Induced abortion. Technical report series, No. 623, World Health Organization, Geneva, 1978 Ylikorkala O, Alfthan H, Kaariainen M, Rapeli T, Lahteenmaki P. Outpatient therapeutic abortion with mifepristone. Obstetrics and Gynecology 74: 653–657, 1989 Author information Authors and Affiliations Rights and permissions About this article Cite this article Henshaw, R.C., Templeton, A.A. Mifepristone. Drugs 44, 531–536 (1992). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-199244040-00001 Published: Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-199244040-00001

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