Biomaterial Database

Single-dose systemic methotrexate for the treatment of persistent ectopic pregnancy after conservative surgery. 1994

D E Hoppe, and B E Bekkar, and C W Nager

Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, School of Medicine, San Diego.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether a single outpatient methotrexate injection successfully treats persistent ectopic pregnancy. METHODS Nineteen consecutive patients with increasing beta-hCG titers after conservative surgery for ectopic pregnancy were treated with a single intramuscular methotrexate (50 mg/m2) injection. RESULTS All 19 patients had resolution of their beta-hCG titers without subsequent surgery. Beta-hCG levels commonly increased during the first 3 days after treatment, but subsequently declined. Two patients required hospital admission for observation and analgesia. One of these two patients had probable self-limited intra-abdominal bleeding and required a blood transfusion. CONCLUSIONS A single methotrexate injection is a safe and successful treatment for persistent ectopic pregnancy. Delayed hemorrhage may be a rare complication, and close surveillance is necessary.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008727	Methotrexate	An antineoplastic antimetabolite with immunosuppressant properties. It is an inhibitor of TETRAHYDROFOLATE DEHYDROGENASE and prevents the formation of tetrahydrofolate, necessary for synthesis of thymidylate, an essential component of DNA.	Amethopterin,Methotrexate Hydrate,Methotrexate Sodium,Methotrexate, (D)-Isomer,Methotrexate, (DL)-Isomer,Methotrexate, Dicesium Salt,Methotrexate, Disodium Salt,Methotrexate, Sodium Salt,Mexate,Dicesium Salt Methotrexate,Hydrate, Methotrexate,Sodium, Methotrexate
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011271	Pregnancy, Ectopic	A potentially life-threatening condition in which EMBRYO IMPLANTATION occurs outside the cavity of the UTERUS. Most ectopic pregnancies (>96%) occur in the FALLOPIAN TUBES, known as TUBAL PREGNANCY. They can be in other locations, such as UTERINE CERVIX; OVARY; and abdominal cavity (PREGNANCY, ABDOMINAL).	Ectopic Pregnancy,Pregnancy, Extrauterine,Ectopic Pregnancies,Extrauterine Pregnancies,Extrauterine Pregnancy,Pregnancies, Ectopic,Pregnancies, Extrauterine
D005260	Female		Females
D006063	Chorionic Gonadotropin	A gonadotropic glycoprotein hormone produced primarily by the PLACENTA. Similar to the pituitary LUTEINIZING HORMONE in structure and function, chorionic gonadotropin is involved in maintaining the CORPUS LUTEUM during pregnancy. CG consists of two noncovalently linked subunits, alpha and beta. Within a species, the alpha subunit is virtually identical to the alpha subunits of the three pituitary glycoprotein hormones (TSH, LH, and FSH), but the beta subunit is unique and confers its biological specificity (CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN, BETA SUBUNIT, HUMAN).	Chorionic Gonadotropin, Human,HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin),Biogonadil,Choriogonadotropin,Choriogonin,Chorulon,Gonabion,Human Chorionic Gonadotropin,Pregnyl,Gonadotropin, Chorionic,Gonadotropin, Human Chorionic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D017211	Treatment Failure	A measure of the quality of health care by assessment of unsuccessful results of management and procedures used in combating disease, in individual cases or series.	Failure, Treatment,Failures, Treatment,Treatment Failures