Clinical and pregnancy outcome following ectopic pregnancy; a prospective study comparing expectancy, surgery and systemic methotrexate treatment.

BACKGROUND: The improved possibility of an early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy by use of serial quantitative beta-subunit human chorionic gonadotropin hormone levels together with transvaginal ultrasound has opened up options for conservative treatment. Systemic methotrexate treatment of unruptured ectopic pregnancy has emerged as a safe and effective alternative to surgical procedures. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of methotrexate treatment in routine clinical practice, but also to assess pregnancy outcome during a 2.5-year follow-up period.

METHODS: All patients presenting to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Umeå University Hospital, with signs and symptoms of ectopic pregnancy between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 1997 were included in this prospective study. Patients with ectopic pregnancy were either managed expectantly, treated with methotrexate or by laparoscopic or open surgery (salpingostomy/salpingectomy). Systemic methotrexate (Pharmacia & Upjohn, Stockholm, Sweden) was administered as an intramuscular injection of 50 mg/m(2).

RESULTS: One hundred and seven patients presented with signs and symptoms of a possible ectopic pregnancy, of these 89 patients eventually were diagnosed as having an ectopic pregnancy. Twenty-six (29%) patients were treated with methotrexate, 46 (52%) patients with laparoscopy or laparotomy, and 17 (19%) patients by expectant management. Success rate in the methotrexate group, after one or more injections, was 77% (20 patients out of 26). The mean time to resolution was 24+/-9 days. There was no difference in pregnancy rate following methotrexate treatment compared to surgical treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: Systemic single-dose methotrexate treatment is a safe treatment option with a reasonably high success rate, with similar probability of a later intrauterine pregnancy as conventional surgical treatment.