title: Rapid diagnosis of early ectopic pregnancy in an emergency gynaecology service--are measurements of progesterone, intact and free beta human chorionic gonadotrophin helpful?
abstract: The clinical usefulness of measuring serum concentrations of progesterone, human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) and the free beta-subunit of HCG in distinguishing between early viable and non-viable pregnancy, before an accurate ultrasound diagnosis is possible, was evaluated in a prospective study of patients presenting to our emergency gynaecology service with a clinical suspicion of ectopic pregnancy. Patients were selected on the basis of initial HCG concentrations; samples with HCG 25-10,000 IU/l were later analysed for progesterone and free beta HCG. Of the 181 patients studied, 38 (21%) had an ectopic pregnancy, 108 (60%) had a spontaneous abortion and 35 (19%) had a viable intra-uterine pregnancy. Concentrations of HCG and free beta HCG in the group with viable pregnancies were significantly higher than in the group with ectopic pregnancy (P < 0.001) and than those destined to miscarry (P < 0.01). Progesterone concentrations were also significantly higher in the viable versus the ectopic and the spontaneous abortion groups (P < 0.001 in each case). Despite these highly significant differences there was a degree of overlap such that it was impossible to devise a cut-off level for any hormone analysed, either singly or in combination, which would offer a clinically useful predictor of outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Centre for Reproductive Biology, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Ledger
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Sweeting
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
mesh_terms: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011374:Progesterone