title: Clinical value of pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoprotein (SP1) and beta-hCG determination in serum in suspected ectopic pregnancy.
abstract: We compared the clinical value of pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoprotein (SP1) determination in serum by means of a highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) versus that of beta human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) determination in suspected ectopic pregnancy. The study comprised 58 women admitted consecutively with suspected ectopic pregnancy but without signs warranting immediate surgical intervention. Both SP1 and beta-hCG were found in 11 patients with ectopic pregnancy and in 8 patients with early intra-uterine pregnancy, whereas beta-hCG was detected in 4 and SP1 in 7 of 8 women with a recent abortion. Of 31 women presenting a non-pregnant condition, 2 were positive for both SP1 and beta-hCG. The measurement of SP1 in serum thus appears to be an alternative to beta-hCG measurement when ectopic pregnancy is suspected.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D011268:Pregnancy-Specific beta 1-Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D011268:Pregnancy-Specific beta 1-Glycoproteins