[Experiences with the antigestagen mifepristone (RU 486) in the interruption of early pregnancy].

50 healthy women (mean age 29.9 +/- 6.4 years) with early unwanted pregnancy (mean duration 39.3 +/- 2.9 days post menstruationem) received a single oral dose of 600 mg of Mifepristone. Uterine bleedings occurred in all patients within 8 to 110 hours (43 +/- 23.3 hours) after the application, but its duration was very different and correlated with the results of treatment. 39 patients reported on an amount of bleeding exceeding by far the menstrual strength. But in most cases this heavy bleeding lasted only 1-3 days. Frequency of complete abortion was 80% (40 women). 4 patients had an incomplete abortion, and in 6 women the pregnancy was unaffected by the treatment. "Medical abortion" provides a novel alternative to the surgical procedure and is fairly accepted by the patients. Its efficacy, however, should be improved by focusing on early pregnancies not exceeding 10 days after the expected menstrual period and, perhaps, the additional usage of low doses of prostaglandin E derivatives.