title: The diagnosis of ectopic pregnancies in cases of lower abdominal pain using beta subunit assay of human chorionic gonadotropin.
abstract: The role of beta-subunit assay of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the early and accurate diagnosis and treatment of ectopic pregnancy was evaluated prospectively in a group of 57 women who presented with lower abdominal pains. A flow scheme for diagnosis work-up based primarily on hCG beta-subunit assay resulted in no false negative result. This enabled early and conservative treatment of the condition. Ectopic pregnancy was diagnosed early in more than one third of the patients. As a result conservative treatment was performed in cases were it was required and medically possible (33% of the cases).
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ben-Rafael
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dor
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mashiach
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Serr
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D010446:Peptide Fragments