title: Serum progesterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancies and the value of progesterone replacement in intrauterine pregnancies when serum progesterone levels are low.
abstract: The corpus luteum function was evaluated in patients with surgically confirmed ectopic pregnancy (EP) in a multicenter study. In addition, the minimal threshold of serum progesterone (P) concentration required for salvaging intrauterine pregnancies (IUP) was also examined. Results show that single P or 17-OHP measurements are not diagnostic for EP, since mean P levels in EP were similar to those with spontaneous abortion though significantly lower than those in controls. 17-OHP levels in EP overlapped in 50% with IUP, and the mean levels were significantly lower only at 6-7 weeks. The 17-OHP levels when compared to hCG supports the view that corpus luteum defect is primary. In IUP, P levels < 8 ng/ml still were associated with viable (60%) pregnancy; thus no minimal threshold could be established.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Camden, N.J.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Check
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nowroozi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benveniste
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Barnea
mesh_terms: D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011255:Pregnancy Maintenance / Q000502:physiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones; D011374:Progesterone; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone