Commentary on Should oral misoprostol be used to revent postpartum haemorrhage in home-birth settings n low-resource countries? A systematic review of the vidence

摘要

Misoprostol is an exciting and fascinating drug, but never seems to be far from controversy. Maybe it is not. surprising given that it has the potential not only to cheaply prevent thousands of maternal deaths each year, but also provides a highly effective but clandestine method for induced abortion. Misoprostol lias therefore attracted passionate advocates and opponents in equal measure. In the last decade, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, WHO and Gynuily Health Projects have put enormous time, effort and money into sorting out the optimal role for misoprostol. And, as a result, following 20 years of politics, intrigue and largely uncoordinated research, a global consensus is finally emerging regarding the science (if not the politics) around this drug. Both WHO and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (F1GO) have recently-produced robust guidelines on misoprostol use, and there has been general acceptance of the appropriate dosages.