Significant increase in serum hCG levels following methotrexate therapy is associated with lower treatment success rates in ectopic pregnancy patients.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the association between early increase in the serum hCG levels (days 0-4) and treatment success rates following methotrexate therapy in ectopic pregnancy patients.

STUDY

DESIGN

A level II-2 case-control study of involving 140 patients treated with methotrexate for ectopic pregnancy at the gynecology department in a tertiary care hospital.

RESULTS

A logistic regression model for the "failure of treatment" was fitted with serum hCG levels change between day 0 and day 4, patient age, pregnancy age at day-0, and day-0 β-hCG level as predictors. The logistic regression analysis indicated that having more than 50% increase in the β-hCG levels between days 0 and 4 significantly (P = 0.011) increases the risk of MTX treatment failure.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study indicate that >50% increase in β-hCG levels between days 0 and 4 significantly increases the risk of methotrexate treatment failure. This novel information could assist patients and physicians in making decisions regarding ectopic pregnancy treatment.