Abstract
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.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1665-1668 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology |
Volume | 118 |
Issue number | 13 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published or Issued - Dec 2011 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Biomarker
- ectopic pregnancy
- human chorionic gonadotrophin
- medical management
- methotrexate
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology