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A rare drug reaction to methotrexate after treatment for ectopic pregnancy
Michele Straka1, Ernest Zeringue, Mindy Goldman
1David Grant Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base, California 94535-1800, USA. michelle.straka@60mdg.travis.af.mil
Background:
Ectopic pregnancies are commonly diagnosed and treated in physicians' offices. In the hemodynamically stable patient, therapy often includes treatment with methotrexate. Well-known adverse effects of this drug include mucositis, abdominal cramping, and malaise. We report a case of a rare drug reaction after treatment with methotrexate.
Case:
A 34-year-old, gravida 2, para 0, at 7 weeks of gestation by last menstrual period was diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy and treated with methotrexate. The patient had an anaphylactoid reaction shortly after administration of methotrexate.
Conclusion:
Methotrexate is a commonly used therapy for ectopic pregnancies in the outpatient setting. Practitioners should be aware of the potential adverse reactions to methotrexate.
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