Methotrexate-Induced Toxicity After Ultrasound-Guided Intragestational Injection in a Patient with Caesarean Scar Pregnancy—A Case Report

<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Caesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy in which the early pregnancy implants at the site of the uterine scar. Methotrexate (MTX) in lower doses can be used to treat CSPs. However, MTX administration is associated with a spectr...

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Main Authors: Sofoklis Stavros, Anastasios Potiris, Angeliki Gerede, Athanasios Zikopoulos, Maria Giourga, Christina Karasmani, Athanasios Karpouzos, Theodoros Karampitsakos, Spyridon Topis, Ismini Anagnostaki, Konstantinos Louis, Ioannis Tsakiridis, Themistoklis Dagklis, Peter Drakakis, Ekaterini Domali
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Medicina
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/11/1900
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author Sofoklis Stavros
Anastasios Potiris
Angeliki Gerede
Athanasios Zikopoulos
Maria Giourga
Christina Karasmani
Athanasios Karpouzos
Theodoros Karampitsakos
Spyridon Topis
Ismini Anagnostaki
Konstantinos Louis
Ioannis Tsakiridis
Themistoklis Dagklis
Peter Drakakis
Ekaterini Domali
author_facet Sofoklis Stavros
Anastasios Potiris
Angeliki Gerede
Athanasios Zikopoulos
Maria Giourga
Christina Karasmani
Athanasios Karpouzos
Theodoros Karampitsakos
Spyridon Topis
Ismini Anagnostaki
Konstantinos Louis
Ioannis Tsakiridis
Themistoklis Dagklis
Peter Drakakis
Ekaterini Domali
author_sort Sofoklis Stavros
collection DOAJ
description <i>Background and Objectives</i>: Caesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy in which the early pregnancy implants at the site of the uterine scar. Methotrexate (MTX) in lower doses can be used to treat CSPs. However, MTX administration is associated with a spectrum of side effects that include hematological toxicities. This case report presents a CSP treated with an intragestational injection of MTX and subsequently developed pancytopenia. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: A 23-year-old woman at six weeks and six days of pregnancy was referred as a potential case of CSP. After establishing the diagnosis, she was treated with a transvaginal ultrasound-guided intragestational administration of 80 mg MTX (adjusted to 50 mg/m<sup>2</sup> body surface area) under sedation. <i>Results</i>: On day four after the MTX injection, she developed oral ulcers, fever, and pruritic phlyctenular maculopapular rash. Subsequently, the patient developed febrile neutropenia and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. On day six, a subsequent exacerbation of the rash was observed with the formation of blisters and purplish spots with concurrent odynophagia and sialorrhea. Ultimately, the patient developed pancytopenia due to bone marrow suppression. Fifteen days after MTX administration, the patient recovered and was discharged from the hospital hemodynamically stable, afebrile, with dropping β-hcg levels, and in good clinical condition. <i>Conclusions</i>: Although methotrexate administration is the preferred option for the treatment of cesarean scar pregnancies, clinicians should be aware of the fact that its use entails potential risks, even when it is used locally. To our knowledge, this case is the first description of pancytopenia due to bone marrow suppression following a single low dose of intragestational methotrexate injection.
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spelling doaj-art-f33646f1ce1c4e2e899eabc3f80b50362024-11-26T18:12:53ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442024-11-016011190010.3390/medicina60111900Methotrexate-Induced Toxicity After Ultrasound-Guided Intragestational Injection in a Patient with Caesarean Scar Pregnancy—A Case ReportSofoklis Stavros0Anastasios Potiris1Angeliki Gerede2Athanasios Zikopoulos3Maria Giourga4Christina Karasmani5Athanasios Karpouzos6Theodoros Karampitsakos7Spyridon Topis8Ismini Anagnostaki9Konstantinos Louis10Ioannis Tsakiridis11Themistoklis Dagklis12Peter Drakakis13Ekaterini Domali14Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, GreeceThird Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Democritus University of Thrace, 691 00 Campus, GreeceThird Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, GreeceFirst Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alexandra Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 28 Athens, GreeceFirst Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alexandra Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 28 Athens, GreeceFirst Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alexandra Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 28 Athens, GreeceThird Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, GreeceThird Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, GreeceThird Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, GreeceThird Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, GreeceThird Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, General Hospital Ippokratio, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 546 42 Thessaloniki, GreeceThird Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, General Hospital Ippokratio, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 546 42 Thessaloniki, GreeceThird Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, GreeceFirst Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alexandra Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 28 Athens, Greece<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Caesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy in which the early pregnancy implants at the site of the uterine scar. Methotrexate (MTX) in lower doses can be used to treat CSPs. However, MTX administration is associated with a spectrum of side effects that include hematological toxicities. This case report presents a CSP treated with an intragestational injection of MTX and subsequently developed pancytopenia. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: A 23-year-old woman at six weeks and six days of pregnancy was referred as a potential case of CSP. After establishing the diagnosis, she was treated with a transvaginal ultrasound-guided intragestational administration of 80 mg MTX (adjusted to 50 mg/m<sup>2</sup> body surface area) under sedation. <i>Results</i>: On day four after the MTX injection, she developed oral ulcers, fever, and pruritic phlyctenular maculopapular rash. Subsequently, the patient developed febrile neutropenia and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. On day six, a subsequent exacerbation of the rash was observed with the formation of blisters and purplish spots with concurrent odynophagia and sialorrhea. Ultimately, the patient developed pancytopenia due to bone marrow suppression. Fifteen days after MTX administration, the patient recovered and was discharged from the hospital hemodynamically stable, afebrile, with dropping β-hcg levels, and in good clinical condition. <i>Conclusions</i>: Although methotrexate administration is the preferred option for the treatment of cesarean scar pregnancies, clinicians should be aware of the fact that its use entails potential risks, even when it is used locally. To our knowledge, this case is the first description of pancytopenia due to bone marrow suppression following a single low dose of intragestational methotrexate injection.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/11/1900ectopic pregnancycesarean scar pregnancymethotrexateearly pregnancypancytopeniaintragestational injection
spellingShingle Sofoklis Stavros
Anastasios Potiris
Angeliki Gerede
Athanasios Zikopoulos
Maria Giourga
Christina Karasmani
Athanasios Karpouzos
Theodoros Karampitsakos
Spyridon Topis
Ismini Anagnostaki
Konstantinos Louis
Ioannis Tsakiridis
Themistoklis Dagklis
Peter Drakakis
Ekaterini Domali
Methotrexate-Induced Toxicity After Ultrasound-Guided Intragestational Injection in a Patient with Caesarean Scar Pregnancy—A Case Report
Medicina
ectopic pregnancy
cesarean scar pregnancy
methotrexate
early pregnancy
pancytopenia
intragestational injection
title Methotrexate-Induced Toxicity After Ultrasound-Guided Intragestational Injection in a Patient with Caesarean Scar Pregnancy—A Case Report
title_full Methotrexate-Induced Toxicity After Ultrasound-Guided Intragestational Injection in a Patient with Caesarean Scar Pregnancy—A Case Report
title_fullStr Methotrexate-Induced Toxicity After Ultrasound-Guided Intragestational Injection in a Patient with Caesarean Scar Pregnancy—A Case Report
title_full_unstemmed Methotrexate-Induced Toxicity After Ultrasound-Guided Intragestational Injection in a Patient with Caesarean Scar Pregnancy—A Case Report
title_short Methotrexate-Induced Toxicity After Ultrasound-Guided Intragestational Injection in a Patient with Caesarean Scar Pregnancy—A Case Report
title_sort methotrexate induced toxicity after ultrasound guided intragestational injection in a patient with caesarean scar pregnancy a case report
topic ectopic pregnancy
cesarean scar pregnancy
methotrexate
early pregnancy
pancytopenia
intragestational injection
url https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/11/1900
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