Atorvastatin as a Potential Adjunct to Misoprostol for Termination of Pregnancy

Early Phase 1

Completed

• Conditions: Abortion Early
• Interventions: Drug: Atorvastatin; Drug: Misoprostol

• Registration Number: NCT05342974
• Lead Sponsor: University of Utah

Brief Summary

Medication abortion is a way of ending a pregnancy using pills. The current FDA-approved regimen for medication abortion uses mifepristone and misoprostol. This study is testing whether a different medication, atorvastatin, followed by misoprostol, can be used to end a pregnancy. Participants at 35-49 days of pregnancy will receive an oral dose of atorvastatin (80 mg) to swallow at the clinic as well as taking atorvastatin (80 mg) daily for six additional days, with a return to clinic on day 8 after initial visit to take a dose of misoprostol (800 mcg). Additionally, follow-up visits will occur on approximately days 3, 8 and 11 for a clinician to perform an ultrasound to see if the abortion is complete.

Detailed Description

Safe and legal abortion is an important part of reproductive health. Medication abortion using a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol is recognized worldwide as the gold standard for early medication abortion. Finding another medication that replace mifepristone would benefit both those who need abortions and providers around the world. Atorvastatin might be one drug that could do this. It is a statin that is commercially available in many countries.

Goal: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a user-friendly atorvastatin-misoprostol regimen

Primary Objective: Successful interference in pregnancy progress, decreases in measurable human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) hormone, or an end of pregnancy (prior to misoprostol use) within seven days of starting atorvastatin (80 mg per day for seven days).

Sample Size: 30 patients

Location: Recruitment of all participants and data collection will take place at Planned Parenthood Association of Utah.

Study Population: People presenting to the study site for medical abortion who have an intrauterine pregnancy visible on ultrasound with a single fetus ≤ 49 days gestational age.

Study Procedures:

STUDY DAY 1 (at clinic) The pregnancy will be confirmed to be 35- 49 days gestational age through transvaginal ultrasound. Baseline data will be collected including pregnancy symptoms and prior medical pregnancy history. Atorvastatin will be started at 80 mg per day for 7 days (first dose taken in clinic). The remaining six doses will be provided to take at home. A blood draw will occur to measure HCG hormone levels.

STUDY DAY 3 (at clinic) Participants will come to clinic, and blood will be drawn to measure HCG hormone levels and a transvaginal ultrasound will occur to monitor pregnancy status.

STUDY DAY 8 (at clinic, day after final day of atorvastatin) A transvaginal ultrasound will be completed to view pregnancy status. Participant will be provided two doses of misoprostol (800 mcg) that can be taken buccally (inserted into cheeks until they dissolve - approximately 30 minutes) or inserted vaginally. The second dose will be taken at home if participant does not experience bleeding that indicates end of pregnancy (heavier than a standard period) within 24 hours.

STUDY DAY 9-11 FOLLOW-UP (at clinic):

In clinic, an exam will be conducted to confirm that the abortion has been completed and to review symptoms that have occurred. If the abortion is not complete, a standard abortion with uterine evacuation will be provided within the week to complete the abortion.

EXTENDED FOLLOW-UP (by text, email, or phone):

30 days after starting the study, participants will be contacted to document any side effects or any needed medical care related to the abortion or complications from the abortion. This will occur through phone or email. These follow up data will address any lasting side effects, need for additional medical care, and complications.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2022-03-22
• Study Start: 2022-04-19
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-04-21
• Study First Posted: 2022-04-25
• Primary Completion: 2023-12-31
• Study Completion: 2025-01-06
• Status Verified: 2025-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-03-19
• Last Update Posted: 2025-03-21

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 9

Inclusion Criteria

• Aged 18 years or older
• A pregnancy confirmed as 35-49 days gestational age through transvaginal ultrasound
• Seeking termination of pregnancy
• Speak English or Spanish
• Willing to potentially delay abortion for 1-2 weeks
• Willing and able to comply with study protocol and accept that the study regimen may not successfully terminate the pregnancy thus a uterine aspiration would be required to complete the abortion.
• Willing to delay contraception until completion of abortion

Exclusion Criteria

• People with pregnancy over 49 days gestational age
• Twin or higher multiple pregnancy
• Medical contraindications to medical abortion per the mifepristone U.S. Food and Drug Administration label
• Confirmed or suspected ectopic pregnancy
• Vaginal bleeding in current pregnancy
• Pregnancy of unknown location
• IUD or contraceptive implant in place
• History of allergy to atorvastatin or misoprostol
• History of myositis
• Currently taking or planning on taking medications during the study that interact with HMG co-A reductase inhibitors (e.g., diltiazem, erythromycin, azoles, gemfibrozil or another fibrate)
• Unable to return for clinic-based follow-up
• Currently breastfeeding
• Already taking an HMG co-A reductase inhibitor [37] or plan to take one outside the study drug during the trial (Fluvastatin, lovastatin, pitavastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pitavastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin or rosuvastatin.
• Unable to swallow pills

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Experimental: Atorvastatin followed by misoprostol	Atorvastatin	Oral dose of atorvastatin (80 mg) to be taken daily for seven days followed by misoprostol (800 mcg) on day 8. A second dose of misoprostol will occur 24 hours after the first dose if no significant bleeding (more than a regular period) has occurred.
Experimental: Atorvastatin followed by misoprostol	Misoprostol	Oral dose of atorvastatin (80 mg) to be taken daily for seven days followed by misoprostol (800 mcg) on day 8. A second dose of misoprostol will occur 24 hours after the first dose if no significant bleeding (more than a regular period) has occurred.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Interference in pregnancy progress	Within 7 days of initiating atorvastatin (80 mg per day)	This is a dichotomous outcome that includes interference in pregnancy progress by any of the following: ultrasound markers as measured by transvaginal ultrasonographic loss of embryonic cardiac activity or abnormal ultrasonographic growth over seven day period, decreases in human chorionic gonadotrophin measures through insufficient rise in quantitative HCG will be considered any of the following: a decrease or increase of less than 50% in quantitative HCG from day 1 to 3; a decrease or increase of less than 100% in quantitative HCG from day 3 to 7, or expulsion of pregnancy prior to misoprostol use.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Planned Parenthood Association of Utah; 🇺🇸 Salt Lake City, Utah, United States