title: Beta-HCG concentration in peritoneal fluid and serum in ectopic and intrauterine pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the significance of beta-HCG levels in peritoneal fluid and serum in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN SETTING: Obstetrics and Gynecology department of a regional general hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-two women who presented with a differential diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy vs. nonviable intrauterine pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients underwent D & C and culdocentesis. beta-HCG was measured in simultaneously obtained peritoneal fluid (PF) and serum (S), and the PF/S ratio calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-three patients had an ectopic pregnancy (Group I). All 23 had higher beta-HCG concentrations in the PF than in the serum, with a mean PF/S ratio of 19.1 +/- 16.9. Twenty-four patients had an intrauterine pregnancy (Group II). The beta-HCG levels in the PF and serum were similar (mean PF/S 1.1 +/- 0.2). The difference in PF/S ratio between groups I and II was statistically significant (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The measurement of beta-HCG in peritoneal fluid and serum is a useful diagnostic tool in differentiating ectopic from intrauterine pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Western Galilee Regional Hospital, Nahariya, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oettinger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Odeh
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tarazova
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Snitkovsky
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ophir
mesh_terms: D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000032:analysis*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D010446:Peptide Fragments