Chorionic gonadotropic hormone Archives - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia

SUMMARY Objective: to evaluate the inclusion parameters in the selection of cases of (tubal) ectopic pregnancy for expectant management and to assess the results. Methods: a prospective study was carried out in 70 patients with unruptured (tubal) ectopic pregnancy, with the objective to carry out an expectant management. The main inclusion criteria in this study were the diameter of the tubal mass, that should be equal or inferior to 5,0 cm, reduced titles of beta-hCG (beta fraction of the chorionic gonadotropic hormone) as compared to the initial value within an interval of 48 h, hemodynamic stability, wishes for future pregnancy and a written permission to participate in the study. All patients were observed in the hospital and when reduction in beta-hCG titles was observed, the patients were discharged from the hospital and followed in the outpatient department, with weekly determinations of beta-hCG until levels lower than 5 mIU/ml were reached, that were considered successful. Results: of the 70 patients who underwent expectant management, only one needed a surgical intervention, because of tubal rupture. The initial values of beta-hCG of the patients ranged from 27 mIU/ml to 41,000 mIU/ml. The average diameter of the tubal mass was 2.9 cm. The presence of free liquid in the peritoneal cavity was observed in 50 patients, small amount in 26 patients, moderate in 16 and large in 8 patients. The ultrasonographic resolution of hematosalpinx occurred in 58 patients and tubal ring was visualized in 12 patients. On color Doppler, 52 were at low risk and 18 at medium risk. Conclusions: the expectant management should be applied with safety in the cases that respect the inclusion criteria, the index of success of this study being 98.6%.