The Effective Role of Adding Letrozole to Methotrexate in the Management of Tubal Ectopic Pregnancies, a Randomized Clinical Trial

This study was conducted in an academic hospital affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Women with EP and stable vital signs withβ-hCG levels≤3500 were assigned randomly to receive MTX + placebo or MTX + letrozole. The regression pattern ofβ-hCG, need for further surgery, and potential side effects were compared between groups. A total of 90 women were assigned equally to the study groups and were matched in age, body mass index (BMI), serum biochemistry, and primary levels ofβ-hCG. No drug-related side effects were observed in groups. The rates of further surgery (p = 0.614) and second dose of MTX (p = 0.809) were not significant between groups. In the MTX + placebo group, we observed a minor increase inβ-hCG levels on day 4 followed by a decreasing pattern on days 7 and 14. But, in MTX + letrozole group, a decreasing pattern inβ-hCG levels from day 1 through day 14 was perceived. The results support using MTX + letrozole to treat stable women diagnosed with tubal EP as a safe and efficient method. Further studies are required to evaluate letrozole alone as an alternative therapy in EPs.
Source: Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research