Values of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin as a risk factor for tubal obstruction after tubal pregnancy.

AIM: The hysterosalpingography (HSG) was evaluated after the clinical treatment of tubal pregnancy and the possible risk of tubal obstruction through the following parameters: beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) levels, size of the adnexal mass, aspects of the image at ultrasound, and color Doppler. METHODS: Eighty patients were submitted to HSG after tubal pregnancy treatment from April 1994 to February 2002. Fifty received expectant management and 30 were treated with single-dose methotrexate (MTX) (50 mg/m(2) intramuscularly). RESULTS: The patency of the ipsilateral tube was 84% and 78% after the MTX and expectant treatments, respectively (P > 0.05). After the logistic regression was performed, it was observed that levels of beta-hCG >5000 mUI/ml were directly related to the tubal obstruction risk, odds ratio = 11.79 (95% CI = 2.27-61.32). Other variables were not directly related to the tubal obstruction risk. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the probability of ipsilateral tubal obstruction depends on the beta-hCG levels. The increase in beta-hCG levels is followed by an enhancement in tubal obstruction risk. Therefore, the beta-hCG may be effective for the prognostic of the reproductive future of these patients.