FDA investigates abortion pill death

It seems that since the FDA approved the use of the abortion pill RU-486, (Mifeprex/ mifepristone) in September 2000, six women in the U.S. have died.

Of two of the deaths reported to FDA in March 2006 one has been determined to be unrelated to an abortion or to the use of RU-486, while the other, with symptoms of infection, is still under investigation.

RU-486 was approved for terminating a pregnancy of 49 days or less; another drug, misoprostol, is given two days later to complete the abortion.

Four other women died from sepsis, a severe illness caused by infection of the bloodstream, after undergoing a medical abortion with RU-486.

All four women were infected by the same type of bacteria.

Sepsis is a known risk related to any type of abortion but the symptoms in the four cases of infection were not the usual symptoms of sepsis.

At present it is unclear whether using RU-486 contributed to the deaths.

The FDA has tested batches of RU-486 and misoprostol and has not found any contamination with the type of bacteria involved in the four cases.

The FDA has not at present attributed these deaths to the drug.

Patients are advised to contact a doctor if they have taken these drugs for a medical abortion and develop stomach pain or discomfort, or have weakness, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea with or without fever, more than 24 hours after taking the misoprostol.

Such symptoms, even without a fever, may indicate sepsis.

Patients should make sure their doctor knows they are undergoing a medical abortion.

For historical information see: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/mifepristone/mifepristone_historical.htm