Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Journal of Isfahan Medical School 1027-7595 32 292 2014 08 23 Comparison of Single-Dose and Multiple-Dose Systemic Methotrexate Regimen for Ectopic Pregnancy Comparison of Single-Dose and Multiple-Dose Systemic Methotrexate Regimen for Ectopic Pregnancy 1054 1060 14380 FA Taravat Fakheri Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran Anisodowleh Nankali Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran Hale Shahlazadeh Resident, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran Mina Ataee Resident, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran Mina Neyakan Shahri Researcher, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran Journal Article 2014 03 16 Background: Ectopic pregnancy is a common serious problem with high morbidity percentage and possibility of maternal mortality. Methotrexate, in the patients with unruptured less-than-4-cm ectopic mass, is a proved treatment. We compared single- and multiple-dose systemic methotrexate regimen for ectopic pregnancy.Methods: 120 women who were diagnosed to have ectopic pregnancy via clinical symptoms, ultrasound examination and beta human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) levels were divided to two equal groups. The first were treated with a single dose regimen of intramuscular methotrexate (50 mg/m2) and the second, received 4 doses of 1 mg/kg of intramuscular methotrexate at the days 1, 3, 5, and 7. The serum β-hCG values were measured and compared at the initiation of treatment and 1 week and 1 month after it.Findings: The overall success rate of methotrexate for an ectopic pregnancy was 76% in single-dose and 96.7% in multiple-dose regimens. The rupture of ectopic pregnancy mass during the treatment was less (3.3%) in multiple-dose group compared to the single-dose one (10%).Conclusion: Multiple-dose methotrexate therapy is more effective than single-dose in ectopic pregnancy and is safer, too. Background: Ectopic pregnancy is a common serious problem with high morbidity percentage and possibility of maternal mortality. Methotrexate, in the patients with unruptured less-than-4-cm ectopic mass, is a proved treatment. We compared single- and multiple-dose systemic methotrexate regimen for ectopic pregnancy.Methods: 120 women who were diagnosed to have ectopic pregnancy via clinical symptoms, ultrasound examination and beta human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) levels were divided to two equal groups. The first were treated with a single dose regimen of intramuscular methotrexate (50 mg/m2) and the second, received 4 doses of 1 mg/kg of intramuscular methotrexate at the days 1, 3, 5, and 7. The serum β-hCG values were measured and compared at the initiation of treatment and 1 week and 1 month after it.Findings: The overall success rate of methotrexate for an ectopic pregnancy was 76% in single-dose and 96.7% in multiple-dose regimens. The rupture of ectopic pregnancy mass during the treatment was less (3.3%) in multiple-dose group compared to the single-dose one (10%).Conclusion: Multiple-dose methotrexate therapy is more effective than single-dose in ectopic pregnancy and is safer, too. https://jims.mui.ac.ir/article_14380_9a4b930f7a36153ca68fdf211c8836a7.pdf