Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2003 Nov;46(11):2118-2122.

Methotrexate for Treatment of Tubal Pregnancy

• Baek SY
• Park CH
• Kim YW
• Kim GJ
• Kim TE
• Ro DY
• Jung JK

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate value of methotretrexate (MTX) in the treatment of tubal pregnancy.
METHODS
28 patients with unruptured tubal pregnancy were treated alternately with four doses of intramuscular MTX (1.0 mg/kg) and four doses of intramuscular citrovorum factor (0.1 mg/kg). Patients considered eligible for MTX treatment of tubal pregnancy were those with unruptured tubal pregnancy RESULTS
26 patients (92.9%) showed normal level in serum beta-hCG and normal fingings in USG after MTX/citrovorum factor therapy. Mean age of the patients was 29.1 years (range 20-41 years). Mean gestational age was 6 weeks (range 5 weeks-8 weeks 2 days). Mean gestational sac size was 19.3 +/- 8.42 mm (range 8-33 mm). Fetal heart beat was absent in all cases on USG. Mean beta-hCG at diagnosis was 3199 +/- 2145 mIU/ml (range 235-6650 mIU/ml). Mean resolution time of beta-hCG was 32.6 +/- 14.24 days (range 12-62 days). Two patients showed increasing concentrations of beta-hCG after therapy and they underwent salpingectomy. No patient experienced severe complications such as vomiting, diarrhea, bone marrow aplasia, ulcerative stomatitis, dermatitis, pneumonitis and alopecia.
CONCLUSION
MTX is safe and effective as a primary therapy for those with unruptured tubal pregnancy

Keyword

Methotrexate; Tubal pregnancy

MeSH Terms

Alopecia
Bone Marrow
Chorionic Gonadotropin
Dermatitis
Diagnosis
Diarrhea
Female
Fetal Heart
Gestational Age
Gestational Sac
Gingivitis, Necrotizing Ulcerative
Humans
Leucovorin
Methotrexate*
Pneumonia
Pregnancy
Pregnancy, Tubal*
Salpingectomy
Ultrasonography
Vomiting
Chorionic Gonadotropin
Leucovorin
Methotrexate