Update on ectopic pregnancy.

Ectopic pregnancy is the leading cause of maternal death in the first trimester. Its incidence is increasing, probably owing to the increasing incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease. Although up to 15% of patients have been reported to present in shock, a large number seek care earlier because of pelvic pain and irregular menses. With strong clinical suspicion and the use of culdocentesis, assays of the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin in the blood and ultrasonography, the diagnosis can be made before rupture occurs. Although the woman''s subsequent fertility has traditionally been poor, some improvement has been achieved with the use of conservative surgical techniques. Early diagnosis facilitates this approach.     

Methotrexate therapy. Nonsurgical management of ectopic pregnancy.

Ectopic pregnancy has become a surgical epidemic over the past two decades. To minimize the morbidity, mortality, and financial burden created by this rapidly growing health problem, nonsurgical alternatives have been investigated, including treatment with methotrexate. We reviewed current literature to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and costs associated with methotrexate treatment of tubal pregnancy. To date, 17 studies have reported on 400 patients with tubal pregnancies treated with parenteral methotrexate; the overall success rate was 92% (95% confidence interval, 89% to 95%). Single-dose parenteral methotrexate has been shown to be safe, effective, and associated with minimal costs when used in carefully selected patients. A prospective, randomized clinical trial comparing medical and surgical management of ectopic pregnancy is needed to assess the risks, benefits, and costs of these two approaches.     

Endometrium implantation and ectopic pregnancy

~~Endometrium implantation and ectopic pregnancy~~     

Endometrium implantation and ectopic pregnancy

Embryo in uterine implantation is a complex and multifactor-related process and is a downstream and ideal point for woman fertility control.Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanism of implantation is a prerequisite for development of anti-implantation contraceptives.In spite of considerable accumulation of information from the laboratory animals that has been achieved,it is difficult to generate such information in human due to ethical restriction and experimental limitation,and the present knowledge for understanding the definitive mechanisms which control these events remains elusive.Embryo implantation can also occur outside uterus.Some women with abdominal pregnancies could successfully complete the processes of gestation and bear normal babies,implying that implantation itself may be not an endometrium-specific process.Reproductive biologists should cooperate with gynecologists to further comparatively study the molecular and cellular mechanisms of implantation normally occurring in endometrium and abnormally appearing outside uterine cavity.Such collaborative studies may generate new important information for developing anti-implantation contraceptive and for techniques of accurate diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy.A specially designed GnRH-2 analog and a combination use of Iow dose RU486 and gossypol as anti-implantation contraceptives have been suggested.