Management of interstitial pregnancy using selective uterine artery embolization

Obstet Gynecol. 2005 Nov;106(5 Pt 2):1165-7. doi: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000164070.13978.87.

Abstract

Background: Interstitial pregnancy is a rare and dangerous form of ectopic pregnancy which is treated by surgery, medical treatment, or both. Management options are not standardized. Currently, conservative nonsurgical treatment seems to be an alternative method in case of interstitial pregnancy.

Case: A right interstitial pregnancy was diagnosed in a 28-year-old woman. She was successfully treated by 2 courses of systemic methotrexate (1 mg/kg) 24 hours apart followed by selective uterine artery embolization. The postembolization course was uneventful, and no rupture occurred. Ten weeks after embolization, human chorionic gonadotropin level was negative.

Conclusion: Uterine embolization associated with methotrexate can be used successfully in treating selected cases of early interstitial pregnancy. We hypothesize that this procedure combined with methotrexate could reduce hemorrhagic risk.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / therapeutic use*
  • Adult
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin / analysis
  • Embolization, Therapeutic / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Methotrexate / therapeutic use*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy, Ectopic / drug therapy*
  • Pregnancy, Ectopic / therapy*
  • Risk Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Uterus / blood supply*
  • Uterus / pathology

Substances

  • Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin
  • Methotrexate