Misoprostol, a prostaglandin E1 analogue commonly used for medical abortion, can act as a teratogenic agent when administered unsupervised, especially in early pregnancy. Its use without medical oversight, particularly in restrictive abortion laws, raises concerns about fetal risks. We describe a rare case of right-sided ear atresia in a female neonate born to a 29-year-old woman who attempted a self-induced abortion using misoprostol at 6 weeks post-conception. The infant was delivered preterm by repeat cesarean section at 36 weeks and 3 days due to intrauterine growth restriction. Postnatal examination revealed Grade 4 right ear atresia. This case highlights a possible association between misoprostol exposure during early pregnancy and congenital ear anomalies. It underscores the need for improved public education on the risks of unsupervised misoprostol use, particularly in unwanted pregnancies, and reinforces the importance of preconception counseling and timely prenatal care.
Shirazi et al. (Mon,) studied this question.