ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety and clinical effectiveness of intravaginal misoprostol, a synthetic prostaglandin, E1analogue, for labor induction in gravidas with premature rupture of membranes (PROM) at term.MethodsOne hundred forty-one pregnant women with term PROM were assigned randomly to one of two induction groups: 1) intravaginal misoprostol or 2) intravenous oxytocin by continuous infusion.ResultsSeventy subjects were allocated to the misoprostol group and 71 to be oxytocin group. The mean (± standard deviation) interval from induction to delivery was significantly shorter in the misoprostol group (416 ± 276 compared with 539 ± 372 minutes;P= .04). In 85.7% of patients in the misoprostol group, only one dose was required. Intrapartum complication rates, mode of delivery, and neonatal or maternal adverse event rates were similar in the two treatment groups. Uterine tachysystole occurred more frequently with misoprostol than with oxytocin (28.6% compared with 14.0%;P< .04).ConclusionIntravaginal administration of misoprostol induces labor safely and effectively in patients with PROM at term.