Abstract
Objective: The great variability in human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels after a single dose of methotrexate (MTX) for ectopic pregnancy makes it difficult to predict treatment failure. We describe different patterns of HCG levels. Study design: Fifty patients were injected i.m. with 50 mg/m2 of MTX for an ectopic pregnancy. Venous blood samples for HCG detection were obtained on the day of treatment (day 0), day 3 and day 7 and weekly until values were undetectable. Patients were classified as: group 1, persistent pathology (n = 11); group 2, complete resolution with a decrease of HCG levels at day 3 (n = 30); group 3, complete resolution after a rise of HCG values at day 3 (n = 9). Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney non-parametric test with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Values of day 0 were similar for all the groups. HCG levels of group 3 decreased rapidly after day 3 and at day 7 they were significantly different from levels of group 1. Differences in HCG levels between groups 2 and 3 became indistinguishable from day 21. Conclusion: The observation of patients undergoing resolution after an initial increase of HCG levels justify an expectant management for 1 week in clinically stable patients. The strategy to separate HCG curves in patients undergoing resolution may shed light on the different clinical responses to therapy for ectopic pregnancies. However, the phenomenon of the immediate rise of HCG should be better investigated.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 227-230 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology |
| Volume | 100 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 10 2002 |
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Keywords
- Ectopic pregnancy
- HCG
- Methotrexate
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Reproductive Medicine
Cite this
Human chorionic gonadotropin patterns after a single dose of methotrexate for ectopic pregnancy. / Natale, Andrea; Busacca, Mauro; Candiani, Massimo; Gruft, Luciano; Izzo, Stefano; Felicetta, Irene; Vignali, Mario.
In: European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Vol. 100, No. 2, 10.01.2002, p. 227-230.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Human chorionic gonadotropin patterns after a single dose of methotrexate for ectopic pregnancy
AU - Natale, Andrea
AU - Busacca, Mauro
AU - Candiani, Massimo
AU - Gruft, Luciano
AU - Izzo, Stefano
AU - Felicetta, Irene
AU - Vignali, Mario
PY - 2002/1/10
Y1 - 2002/1/10
N2 - Objective: The great variability in human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels after a single dose of methotrexate (MTX) for ectopic pregnancy makes it difficult to predict treatment failure. We describe different patterns of HCG levels. Study design: Fifty patients were injected i.m. with 50 mg/m2 of MTX for an ectopic pregnancy. Venous blood samples for HCG detection were obtained on the day of treatment (day 0), day 3 and day 7 and weekly until values were undetectable. Patients were classified as: group 1, persistent pathology (n = 11); group 2, complete resolution with a decrease of HCG levels at day 3 (n = 30); group 3, complete resolution after a rise of HCG values at day 3 (n = 9). Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney non-parametric test with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Values of day 0 were similar for all the groups. HCG levels of group 3 decreased rapidly after day 3 and at day 7 they were significantly different from levels of group 1. Differences in HCG levels between groups 2 and 3 became indistinguishable from day 21. Conclusion: The observation of patients undergoing resolution after an initial increase of HCG levels justify an expectant management for 1 week in clinically stable patients. The strategy to separate HCG curves in patients undergoing resolution may shed light on the different clinical responses to therapy for ectopic pregnancies. However, the phenomenon of the immediate rise of HCG should be better investigated.
AB - Objective: The great variability in human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels after a single dose of methotrexate (MTX) for ectopic pregnancy makes it difficult to predict treatment failure. We describe different patterns of HCG levels. Study design: Fifty patients were injected i.m. with 50 mg/m2 of MTX for an ectopic pregnancy. Venous blood samples for HCG detection were obtained on the day of treatment (day 0), day 3 and day 7 and weekly until values were undetectable. Patients were classified as: group 1, persistent pathology (n = 11); group 2, complete resolution with a decrease of HCG levels at day 3 (n = 30); group 3, complete resolution after a rise of HCG values at day 3 (n = 9). Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney non-parametric test with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Values of day 0 were similar for all the groups. HCG levels of group 3 decreased rapidly after day 3 and at day 7 they were significantly different from levels of group 1. Differences in HCG levels between groups 2 and 3 became indistinguishable from day 21. Conclusion: The observation of patients undergoing resolution after an initial increase of HCG levels justify an expectant management for 1 week in clinically stable patients. The strategy to separate HCG curves in patients undergoing resolution may shed light on the different clinical responses to therapy for ectopic pregnancies. However, the phenomenon of the immediate rise of HCG should be better investigated.
KW - Ectopic pregnancy
KW - HCG
KW - Methotrexate
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0037049962&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0301-2115(01)00480-8
DO - 10.1016/S0301-2115(01)00480-8
M3 - Article
VL - 100
SP - 227
EP - 230
JO - European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
JF - European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
SN - 0028-2243
IS - 2
ER -