[Comparison of the effect of single and multiple-dose methotrexate therapy on tubal patency in women with ectopic pregnancy]

Background and Aim: Ectopic pregnancy is one of the leading causes of death among the women of reproductive age. Injection of single or multiple doses of methotrexate can be used as a therapeutic approach. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of single and multiple-doses of methotrexate therapy on the tubal patency in women with ectopic pregnancy

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Material and Methods: This was an interventional study and included 80 patients with ectopic pregnancy who had been treated with a single dose or multiple doses of methotrexate. After 3 months of hospitalization and treatment, hysterosalpingography was conducted to assess tubal patency. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21

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Results: The frequencies of ipsilateral tubal obstruction were 12 [30%] and 3 [7.5%] in the patients who had received multiple-doses of methotrexate and single-dose methotrexate respectively. Also, 33 [82.5%] patients in the single-dose methotrexate group and 18 [45%] patients in the multiple-dose methotrexate group did not have bilateral obstruction. There was a significant difference in the frequencies of tubal obstruction between the two groups treated with single and multiple doses of methotrexate [P<0.05]

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Conclusion: The incidence of tubal obstruction in women with ectopic pregnancy was significantly lower in single-dose methotrexate group compared to multiple dose methotrexate groups