Trophoblast tissue culture of human intrauterine and ectopic pregnancies and treatment with methotrexate.
The application of drugs for conservative treatment of patients with ectopic pregnancy has been used worldwide for several years. In-vitro studies, however, are very few. We therefore examined the effects of methotrexate on trophoblast tissue cultures derived from intrauterine and ectopic pregnancies. Methotrexate was administered either 12 h or 6 days after initiation of the culture. Human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) levels were measured in the culture medium. All cultures showed secretion of HCG within the first 16 days. Methotrexate concentrations less than 3.8 x 10(-4) mol/l had no effect on HCG secretion. Cultures of ectopic pregnancies required a concentration about 10x higher to induce an equivalent reduction of HCG levels compared to intrauterine pregnancies. A few intrauterine and ectopic pregnancies showed no reduction of HCG values after treatment. These results suggest that data obtained from studies on intrauterine pregnancies may not be transferable to ectopic pregnancies in all instances. In some regimens approximately 8 days are required before the effect becomes measurable. In combination with our clinical data, we therefore recommend not to repeat a methotrexate dose too early in treatment of patients with ectopic pregnancies. The possibility that non-responding patients could exist should be kept in mind.
Schäfer
D
D
Department of Obstetrics/Gynaecology, ZFG, Universitätsklinikum, Frankfurt/Main, FRG.
Pfuhl
J P
JP
Baumann
R
R
Neubert
S
S
Bender
H G
HG
Naujoks
H
H
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D008727:Methotrexate