Three-year analysis to determine prognostic factors affecting success in single-dose methotrexate treatment: a single-center experience

Objective: Our aim is to investigate the factors affecting treatment outcomes and treatment success in cases who received methotrexate for the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. Methods: A total of 221 patients who admitted to Gynecology and Obstetrics Department of Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Training and Research Hospital at Health Sciences University between January 2015 and January 2018 and underwent single-dose methotrexate treatment were separated into two groups which were successful and unsuccessful. Potential demographic, clinical and laboratory results which may affect the success were compared retrospectively. Results: The success rate after methotrexate treatment was found 76.9%. In the unsuccessful group, serum β-hCG values were significantly higher than the successful group (serum β-hCG values of successful group: 2301.61±385.9 mIU/ml, and serum β-hCG values of unsuccessful group: 5459.9 ±1255.3 mIU/ml; p<0.05). Conclusion: In selected cases, single-dose methotrexate treatment is an effective alternative method for ectopic pregnancy treatment compared to surgery. β-hCG levels are significant criteria for treatment success.