title: The relation between depth of trophoblastic invasion and beta-HCG levels in tubal pregnancies.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Hanusch-Krankenhaus, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Graf
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kiss
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Czerwenka
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Egarter
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Husslein
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D015237:Dinoprost