Decline in [beta]hCG levels between days 0 and 4 after a single dose of methotrexate for ectopic pregnancy predicts treatment success: a retrospective cohort study

Please cite this paper as: Skubisz M, Lee J, Wallace E, Tong S. Decline in βhCG levels between days 0 and 4 after a single dose of methotrexate for ectopic pregnancy predicts treatment success: a retrospective cohort study. BJOG 2011;118:1665-1668. In current protocols for the medical management of...

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Published in:BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology 2011-12, Vol.118 (13), p.1665
Main Authors: Skubisz, MM, Lee, J, Wallace, EM, Tong, S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Clinical outcomes
Drug therapy
Hormones
Obstetrics
Pharmacology
Pregnancy
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Summary:Please cite this paper as: Skubisz M, Lee J, Wallace E, Tong S. Decline in βhCG levels between days 0 and 4 after a single dose of methotrexate for ectopic pregnancy predicts treatment success: a retrospective cohort study. BJOG 2011;118:1665-1668. In current protocols for the medical management of ectopic pregnancies, the first indication of treatment response is obtained no sooner than day 7. We examined whether human chorionic gonadotrophin (βhCG) trends between days 0 and 4 after methotrexate provide an earlier indication of the likely outcome. Of 33 patients where serum βhCG dropped between days 0 and 4 after methotrexate, the ectopic pregnancy was resolved in 88% of cases without further treatment. Of 12 women where serum βhCG rose between days 0 and 4, only 42% had treatment success. A fall in βhCG between days 0 and 4 after treatment with methotrexate for ectopic pregnancy predicts a high likelihood of treatment success. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:1470-0328
1471-0528