A pilot study to assess the safety and cardiac side effects of mifeprestone while using in first and second trimester MTP

Tamilarasu Kaliappan

PSG Institute of Medical Science & Research, India

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Cardiovasc Dis Diagn

Abstract :

It is a pilot study to assess incidence of hypokalemia and QTc prolongation in patients undergoing 1st and 2nd trimester MTP with mifepristone. It is a steroidal antiprogestogen as well as an antiglucocorticoid and antiandrogen, usually used with misoprostol in first trimester MTP. It is also used for the medical treatment of Cushingâ??s syndrome in adults. Mifepristone can cause hypokalemia and QT prolongation, but it is not routinely checked before administrating for first trimester abortion. No studies are available to asses these effects when it is used in medical abortion. After IHEC approval and patients consent, we got the baseline electrocardiogram and potassium levels of 50 patientâ??s prior administering mifepristone for women seeking termination of their pregnancies. Patients whom renal dysfunction or with drugs which will cause hypokalemia and QTc prolongation were excluded. The women were observed 48 hours later, after administering mifepristone, for QTc prolongation and hypokalemia, among 50 patients, five patients (10%) developed hypokalemia, three patients (6%) developed QTc prolongation, and two patients (4%) had significant prolongation in QTc interval along with hypokalemia. Among seven patients who had hyperemesis three patients developed hypokalemia after drug administration. There was a significant difference in pre and post QTc interval (P=0.008). To conclude routine checking of potassium and ECG for QTc prolongation before and after administrating mifepristone may prevent cardiac events, more so particularly in patients with hyperemesis who is planning for medical abortion.

Biography :

Tamilarasu Kaliappan has completed his MBBS, MD at Dr. MGR Medical University, Chennai, India. He has obtained his Diplomate in National Board in Cardiology at Amrita University, Kochi, India. He has been elected as Fellow in American College of Cardiology (FACC) in 2015. He is currently working as an Associate Professor in the Department of Cardiology, PSG Institute of Medical Science and Research, Coimbatore, India. He is a Life Member in Cardiology Society of India (CSI).

E-mail: meditamil@gmail.com