Intravenous methotrexate for treatment of interstitial pregnancy: a case report

J Reprod Med. 2004 Feb;49(2):121-2.

Abstract

Background: Ectopic pregnancy is the leading cause of first-trimester maternal death, accounting for 9% of pregnancy-related deaths. Interstitial (cornual) pregnancies represent 6% of all ectopics but account for a disproportionately higher mortality rate. Surgical management has been the treatment of choice for interstitial pregnancies. A very limited number of articles pre have explored the use of intravenous methotrexate to treat cornual pregnancy as a possible conservative first-line therapy in selected, hemodynamically stable patients.

Case: A patient with a confirmed interstitial pregnancy was treated with intravenous methotrexate. The patient's beta-hCG levels decreased to zero within 9 weeks.

Conclusion: Intravenous methotrexate was used successfully in the treatment of an interstitial pregnancy without complications.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / administration & dosage*
  • Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / adverse effects
  • Adult
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / blood
  • Female
  • Folic Acid Antagonists / administration & dosage
  • Folic Acid Antagonists / adverse effects
  • Folic Acid Deficiency / chemically induced
  • Folic Acid Deficiency / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Methotrexate / administration & dosage*
  • Methotrexate / adverse effects
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy, Ectopic / blood
  • Pregnancy, Ectopic / drug therapy*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human
  • Folic Acid Antagonists
  • Methotrexate