title: Preservation of tubal function following methotrexate treatment for ectopic pregnancy.
abstract: To evaluate methotrexate (MTX) administration as a conservative treatment for ectopic pregnancy, we reviewed the medical records of 248 cases (210 patients) of MTX treatment for tubal pregnancies at our department between December 1985 and December 2003, and compared its pregnancy prognosis with that of laparoscopic salpigotomy (59 patients). With the MTX treatment, 185 patients were successfully treated, and the subsequent pregnancy rate and ectopic pregnancy rate were 48.4 % and 18.4 %, respectively, while those rates were 49.2 % and 18.6 %, respectively, after the salpigotomy. These results suggest that MTX treatment is comparable to the more conservative operation. To clarify the (dys/) function of the ectopic implantation tubes and MTX-treated tube (s), we excluded patients who had a contra-lateral healthy tube, and extracted 40 patients as "the affected tube group", where the pregnancy-related parameters were not adversely affected. The findings suggest that MTX is not necessary to preserve tubal function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Specialized Clinical Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Bohseidai, Isehara, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Shun-Ichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Izumi
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Awaji
authors.forename: Hidehiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsubayashi
authors.forename: Kikuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshikata
authors.forename: Goh
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kika
authors.forename: Takayo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murano
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shida
authors.forename: Noa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Liyi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Mayu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshitake
authors.forename: Tsunehisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Makino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008499:Medical Records; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic; D011274:Pregnancy, Tubal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012489:Salpingostomy
chemical_list: D008727:Methotrexate