Abortion or delivery were induced by extra-amniotic instillation of Rivanol during the second trimester in twelve patients and during the third trimester in two patients with fetal death and one patient with fetal acrania. Serial sampling of amniotic fluid was performed through a transabdominal catheter and the levels of free arachidonic acid (AA), prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) were determined. The levels of AA, PGF2 alpha, PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TXB2 in amniotic fluid increased significantly during induction with the exception of AA in fetal death which was high and remained constant during induction. Furthermore, PGF2 alpha, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TXB2 were all significantly correlated to AA. These observations suggested that free AA is released during Rivanol-induction of abortion and labour giving an increased synthesis of PGF2 alpha, PGE2 prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 in the fetal membranes and the decidua but not in the fetus. This increase might be relevant for the initiation and progress of abortion and labour in these patients.
PIP: Abortion or delivery were induced by extraamniotic instillation of Rivanol during the second trimester in 12 patients, during the third trimester in 2 patients with fetal death, and in 1 patient with fetal acrania. Serial sampling of amniotic fluid was performed through a transabdominal catheter and the levels of free (AA) arachidonic acid, (PGF2alpha) prostaglandin F2alpha, PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1alpha, and (TXB2) thromboxane B2 were determined. The levels of AA, PGF2alpha, PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1alpha, and TXB2 in amniotic fluid increased significantly duirng induction with the exception of AA in fetal death which was high and remained constant during induction. Furthermore, PGF2alpha, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, and TXB2 were all significantly correlated to AA. These observations suggested that free AA is released during Rivanol induction of abortion and labor giving an increased synthesis of PGF2alpha, PGE2 prostacyclin, and TXA2 in the fetal membranes and the decidua but not in the fetus. This increase might be relevant for the intitiation and progress of abortion and labor in these patients.