The relation between depth of trophoblastic invasion and beta-HCG levels in tubal pregnancies.
beta-HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) values of over 2500 I.U./l are associated with higher failure rates for therapy with prostaglandin F2 alpha in tubal pregnancies. The purpose of our study was to ascertain if the 2500 I.U./l limit correlates with histopathology. We therefore compared the pre-operative beta-HCG-values and intraluminal and extraluminal trophoblast growth in tubal pregnancy. Purely intraluminal trophoblast was significantly more frequent in patients of group I (beta-HCG < 2500 I.U./l), while group II patients (beta-HCG > 2500 I.U./l) almost exclusively had extraluminal growth (P = 0.0045). Since the efficacy of prostaglandin F2 alpha therapy depends on intact tubal musculature the correlation of the beta-HCG threshold level with histopathologic findings may explain the high failure rate in patients with beta-HCG values above 2500 I.U./l.
Klein
M
M
Department of Gynecology, Hanusch-Krankenhaus, Vienna, Austria.
Graf
A
A
Kiss
H
H
Czerwenka
K
K
Beck
A
A
Egarter
C
C
Husslein
P
P
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011274:Pregnancy, Tubal / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000473:pathology*
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D015237:Dinoprost