BMJ  2008;336:1032 (10 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.39554.346759.BE

Editorials

Misoprostol in resource poor countries

Is cheap and effective, yet its availability remains restricted

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

An evidence based guideline on the use of misoprostol for women’s reproductive health has recently been published.¹ It underlines the value of misoprostol for specific clinical indications in obstetrics and gynaecology despite the remarkable absence of marketing efforts by producers. Misoprostol is a prostaglandin E₁ analogue, which is effective, cheap, and can be used safely for a variety of obstetric and gynaecological indications.² It is rare that a new drug can potentially save tens of thousands of maternal lives, particularly in the poorest countries in the world.

The uterotonic action of misoprostol was discovered as a side effect of its main intended use of treating peptic ulcer.³ For more than 20 years it has been a focus of global interest among obstetricians and gynaecologists, although the patent holder consistently refuses to acknowledge its tremendous potential value for women in the poorest countries. The reasons for this refusal seem to be . . . [Full text of this article]

¹ AMDD Program, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA, ² Division of International Health, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden

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Rapid Responses:

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Misoprostol is a teratogenic drug

Marķa Reverte
bmj.com, 10 May 2008 [Full text]

Response Misoprostol is a teratogenic drug

Annette Aronsson, et al.
bmj.com, 13 May 2008 [Full text]

Foetal effects of inappropriate misoprostol use: wider issues must be addressed to minimise foetal risk

Brian T Wilson
bmj.com, 20 May 2008 [Full text]

Re: Foetal effects of inappropriate misoprostol use: wider issues must be addressed to minimise foetal risk

Annette Aronsson, et al.
bmj.com, 24 May 2008 [Full text]