OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effect and safety of combined use of methotrexate and mifepristone for treatment of ectopic pregnancy.

METHODSBy searching in the major databases of CNKI, CBMdisk and Pubmed according to the criteria of evidence-based medicine, we collected data of randomized controlled trials pertaining to combined use of methotrexate and mifepristone in the treatment of ectopic pregnancy.

RESULTSTwenty-three randomized controlled trials involving totally 1 706 patients were collected according to the inclusion criteria, and meta-analysis of the data indicated that combined use of methotrexate and mifepristone can be of great value in the management of ectopic pregnancy in comparison with exclusive use of methotrexate [ combined odds ratio (OR) was 2.84 with 95%confidence interval [CI] (2.18, 3.69), Z=7.79, P<0.000 01].

CONCLUSIONThe clinical evidence derived from the analysis suggests that the combination of methotrexate and mifepristone for ectopic pregnancy management can be effective with good safety security and minimal side effects, but still, this conclusion needs further verification by randomized, double-blind, and controlled trials with larger sample size and more rigorous trial design.

Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal ; administration & dosage ; Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal ; administration & dosage ; Adult ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Methotrexate ; administration & dosage ; Mifepristone ; administration & dosage ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; drug therapy ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo select a safe, quick and effective method for terminating ectopic pregnancy (EP) with few adverse effects.

METHODSPatients were divided into 2 groups. The observed group was treated with methotrexate (MTX, 50 mg/m2 for single dose intramuscular injection) plus RU 486 (600 mg taken orally in the morning with empty stomach, followed with fasting for 2 hrs) and Waiyun Zhuyu decoction (WZD, one dose a day for 7-10 days). The control group was only treated with MTX, with the same regimen as used in the observed group.

RESULTSThe curative rate, time for blood beta-HCG recovering, lump absorption time, and tube recanalization rate in the observed group were better than those in the control group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION; The key links for successfully treating EP with conservative drug therpy are to diagnose the disease early and clearly, and to select indicative subject strictly. The scheme of single dose administration of MTX plus RU486 combined with WZD, with its high efficacy and few adverse reaction, may be used as the first choice for referential clinical drugs administration.

Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal ; administration & dosage ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Methotrexate ; administration & dosage ; Mifepristone ; administration & dosage ; Phytotherapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effect and safety of pelvic methotrexate (MTX) injection via the posterior fornix for treatment of tubal pregnancy.

METHODSNinety-six patients with tubal pregnancy (mean age 21-40 years) were randomized into 3 groups for treatment with pelvic MTX injection via the posterior fornix+mifepristone+traditional Chinese medicine (experiment group), intramuscular MTX injection+mifepristone+traditional Chinese medicine (control group I), or mifepristone+traditional Chinese medicine (control group II). On days 4 and 7 of the treatment, blood β-HCG of the patients in different groups was detected, and in cases with continuous reduction of blood β-HCG or a reduction by over 15%, β-HCG was checked every week. One week after the treatment, the size of the mass was measured by B-mode ultrasound. The clearance time of β-HCG and the hospital stay of the patients were recorded.

RESULTSTwenty-nine patients in the experimental group were treated successfully, with a cure rate of 90.6%, which was significantly higher than those in the two control groups (P<0.05). The clearance time of β-HCG and hospital stay were also much shorter in the experimental group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPelvic MTX injection via the posterior fornix is a convenient procedure associated with minimal complications and serves as a good alternative for treatment of tubal pregnancy.

Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal ; administration & dosage ; Adult ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Injections ; Methotrexate ; administration & dosage ; Mifepristone ; administration & dosage ; Pelvis ; Phytotherapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Tubal ; drug therapy ; Vagina ; Young Adult

The objective of this study is to describe the clinical outcomes of patients treated for cervical pregnancy with or without methotrexate (MTX) and to evaluate the effects of MTX in the treatment of cervical pregnancy. Between January 1993 and February 2000, 31 patients were diagnosed with cervical pregnancy. Twenty-two patients were treated with MTX chemotherapy and nine patients were treated with surgical procedures without MTX treatment. In the non-MTX treatment group, three patients underwent total abdominal hysterectomy, five required adjuvant procedures to control the bleeding during dilatation and curettage (D&C) and only one patient was treated with a simple D&C. In the MTX treatment group, fourteen (63.6%) patients were treated with only MTX and eight (36.4%) cases underwent concomitant procedures (simple curettage, curettage and Foley catheter tamponade, cer-vical cerclage, ligation of the descending branches of uterine arteries, or ligation of hypogastric arteries). The uterus was preserved in all cases and three women delivered healthy babies in their subsequent pregnancy. In conclusion, early diagnosis, appropriate MTX regimen in combination of necessary adjuvant conservative procedures could contribute to successful treatment with preservation of the uterus and future reproductive ability.
Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal/administration & dosage ; Comparative Study ; Dilatation and Curettage/*statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea/epidemiology ; Methotrexate/*administration & dosage ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic/*drug therapy/epidemiology/*surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Assessment/*methods ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome

The purpose of this study is to evaluate predictors of success of repeated injections of methotrexate in the single-dose regimen for the treatment of tubal ectopic pregnancy. All patients who had ectopic tubal pregnancy and were treated with a single dose regimen were retrospectively identified. 126 patients were treated with methotrexate. Among them, 39 patients were adequate for this study. 33 were treated with the 2nd dose and 27 were successfully cured. Additionally, 6 who were injected with the 3rd dose were all cured as well. Therefore, in our study, the success rate for the repeated injections of methotrexate was found to be 84.6% (33/39). The mean initial beta-hCG level was significantly lower in patients who were successfully treated than in patients who failed (3915.3+/-3281.3 vs. 8379.7+/-2604.4 IU/mL, p<0.05). The success rate is 96% when the beta-hCG level is less than 6,000 IU/mL and is 58% when beta-hCG is greater than 6,000 IU/mL (OR=18.57, 95% CI 1.86-185.89). The initial beta-hCG level is the only factor that has significant meaning as predictor of success of repeated injections of methotrexate in the single-dose regimen. Repeated injections of methotrexate may be particularly effective when the initial beta-hCG level is below 6,000 IU/mL.
Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal/administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human/blood ; Female ; Humans ; Injections ; Methotrexate/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Tubal/blood/*drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect and risk of misoprostol for stimulating cervical maturity in women with post-term pregnancy negative for insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) in cervical secretion with modified Bishop score less than 3.

METHODSSeventy-one women with post-term pregnancy randomized into misoprostol group (n=37) and control group (n=34) received misoprostol placement at the posterior vaginal fornix and routine intravenous oxytocin infusion, respectively, to stimulate cervical maturity. Failure to respond to the treatment within the initial 24 h necessitated a repeated administration for no more than 3 times in all. Modified Bishop score was recorded and fetal heart monitored once every 24 h, and IGFBP-1 in the cervical secretion was detected at 24 and 48 h after drug administration.

RESULTSThe misoprostol group showed better effect of cervical maturity stimulation than the control group (P<0.001), and the positivity rates of IGFBP-1 24 and 48 h after drug administration were significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.01 and 0.001). The number of cases with indication for cesarean section was significant higher in the control group (P<0.001). There were no significant differences in postpartum hemorrhage, excessive uterine contraction, incidence of fecal contamination of the amniotic fluid or Apgar score of the newborn between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMisoprostol is safe and effective for stimulating cervical maturity in women with post-term pregnancy who have modified Bishop score lower than 3 and are negative for IGPBF-1 in cervical secretion. Oxytocin is not advised for use in such gravida for stimulating cervical maturity. IGFBP-1 in cervical secretion may serve as an important index for evaluating the cervical maturity.

Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Administration, Intravaginal ; Adult ; Cervical Ripening ; drug effects ; Cervix Uteri ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Heart Rate, Fetal ; drug effects ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 ; metabolism ; Misoprostol ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Prolonged ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome