Moebius syndrome related to misoprostol (cytotec®) use as an abortifacient

Abstract

The Moebius syndrome consists of a congenital disorder characterized by lesion of the facial and abducens nerves associated with limb malformations. Although the genetic aetiology is the most accepted, environmental causes have been proposed because of the increasing number of cases associated with the use of misoprostol during pregnancy. Misoprostol is the active drug of cytotec®, a drug initially used for the treatment of peptic ulcer that acts increasing uterine contractility when used during pregnancy. The objective of this study was to identify the patients with Moebius syndrome whose mothers referred to attempt abortion by using misoprostol. Fifteen mothers of children with Moebius syndrome were inquired about abortion attempt during the pregnancy and, if positive, the method applied. A total of 66.7% of the mothers referred the attempt. All reported the use of Cytotec® and the combined route (oral and vaginal) was the preferred method (70%) with the use of one to four tablets in most cases (90%). All the attempts were done in the first trimester of pregnancy, being most of them (70%) between the fifth and eight gestation weeks. Our findings reveal the high prevalence of Cytotec® use in abortion attempts by mothers of children with Moebius syndrome.