Serum hCG decline following salpingotomy or salpingectomy for extrauterine pregnancy.
Twenty-five women with ectopic pregnancy were surgically treated, fifteen by conservative salpingotomy and ten by radical salpingectomy. All patients showed a clinically normal postoperative course. Serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels were determined serially before and after the surgical procedure until non-pregnant values (< 5 mI.U./ml) were reached. Serum hCG decline was compared between patients treated by salpingotomy versus salpingectomy, using calculated hCG half-life times. We observed a significantly slower decline of serum hCG levels during the early phase of hCG disappearance in patients treated by salpingotomy versus patients treated by salpingectomy.
Hellemans
P
P
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Fertility, Middleheim Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.
Gerris
J
J
Joostens
M
M
van der Meer
S
S
Verdonk
P
P
Francx
M
M
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery*
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin