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Medical management of tubal pregnancy
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/s0020-7292(99)80046-0
Subject(s) - medicine , folinic acid , ectopic pregnancy , methotrexate , obstetrics , pregnancy , maternal death , gynecology , medical treatment , chemotherapy , intensive care medicine , surgery , population , biology , genetics , fluorouracil , environmental health
Ectopic pregnancy is a major health problem for women of reproductive age and, in the United States, is the leading cause of pregnancy‐related death during the first trimester. Diagnosis and treatment of tubal pregnancy before tubal rupture occurs decreases the risk of death. Early detection may make it possible for some patients to receive medical therapy instead of surgery. Methotrexate, a folinic acid antagonist, has been used to treat patients with small unruptured tubal pregnancies. The purpose of this document is to present evidence, including risks and benefits, about methotrexate as an alternative treatment for selected ectopic pregnancies.