[Methotrexate treatment of ectopic pregnancy. A pilot study]

The incidence of ectopic pregnancy is rising but the clinical presentation of the disease has changed simultaneously. Nowadays, the majority of ectopic pregnancies are diagnosed before rupture. This stimulated us to attempt methotrexate therapy (1 mg/kg body weight injected locally or 50 mg given orally) in 12 cases verified by transvaginal ultrasound and presenting with increasing beta-hCG values. The treatment proved successful in 67% of the cases, even though high levels of beta-hCG and foetal heart activity were accepted as inclusion criteria. Eight patients later achieved intrauterine pregnancies, and seven healthy babies were delivered. Randomized, controlled studies are needed.