ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To identify the most effective dosing regimen for indigent patients with low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) at high risk of noncompliance. STUDY DESIGN: All women primarily treated for GTN at our public hospital between November 1990 and November 2001 were prospectively entered into a database. Patients were treated with either (1) methotrexate, 100 mg/m2, intravenous bolus, followed by a 12-hour infusion, 200 mg/m2 (regimen 1); (2) methotrexate, 0.4 mg/kg/m2 intramuscularly for 5 consecutive days on alternating weeks (regimen 2); or (3) methotrexate, 30-50 mg/m2 intramuscularly weekly (regimen 3). Medical records were reviewed to obtain clinical data, and statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: Thirty-two women were treated for low-risk GTN. The median age at diagnosis was 22 years (range, 15-40). Patients receiving regimen 1 (5/5, 100%) and 2 (19/20, 95%) were more likely to achieve complete remission without switching to dactinomycin or combination chemotherapy than those receiving regimen 3 (3/7, 43%; P < .001). Regimen 1 required fewer median treatment cycles (1.0, P = .04) than regimens 2 (6.5 cycles) and 3 (8.0 cycles). Seventeen (52%) patients were noncompliant with the chemotherapy protocol and/or posttreatment surveillance. CONCLUSION: A 1-day methotrexate infusion is highly effective for treating indigent women with low-risk. GTN.
Subject(s)
Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/administration & dosage , Gestational Trophoblastic Disease/drug therapy , Methotrexate/administration & dosage , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Adolescent , Adult , Chicago , Delivery of Health Care , Drug Administration Schedule , Female , Humans , Infusions, Intravenous , Injections, Intramuscular , Medical Records , Treatment Outcome , Uncompensated Care , Women's HealthABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine compliance with postmolar pregnancy surveillance in our indigent population. STUDY DESIGN: Data for all women who were diagnosed with molar pregnancy from January 1996 through December 2000 were entered prospectively into a database. After remission, postmolar pregnancy surveillance was continued for 6 months. Patients whose condition required chemotherapy for gestational trophoblastic tumor had 12 months of follow-up. Medical records were reviewed. RESULTS: Molar pregnancies occurred in 121 women: 103 Hispanic women (85%), 12 African American women (10%), and 6 white women (5%). Eighty-two women (68%) achieved remission without chemotherapy; 23 women (19%) were lost to follow-up without achieving remission, and 16 women (13%) had gestational trophoblastic tumor. Fifty-six Hispanic women (54%) completed postmolar pregnancy surveillance, compared with two African American women (11%, P <.01). Hispanic patients who were fluent in Spanish only were more likely to complete follow-up than bilingual Hispanic patients (62% vs 41%, P <.01). CONCLUSION: Hispanic women who were fluent in Spanish only were most likely to complete the recommended postmolar human chorionic gonadotropin surveillance.
