Comparative analysis of progesterone and placental protein 14 measurements in the evaluation of luteal function.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of single or summed measurements of progesterone and placental protein 14, a progestin-dependent endometrial glycoprotein, in the evaluation of luteal function.


METHODS
Forty-five healthy women had daily blood measurements of luteinizing hormone, progesterone, and placental protein 14 during one menstrual cycle.


RESULTS
Thirty-nine women had normal and six had deficient luteal function on the basis of serial progesterone determinations. Luteal insufficiency was not accurately diagnosed by single progesterone or placental protein 14 values or by integrated placental protein 14 measurements. In contrast, the condition was correctly identified in all but one cycle when the sum of progesterone on days 4 and 7 was < 49 nmol/L (15.4 ng/ml). A poor correlation was found between peak or integrated measurements of progesterone and placental protein 14.


CONCLUSIONS
Measurement of serum progesterone, but not placental protein 14, on 2 days of the midluteal phase provides a convenient and reliable test of luteal function.
Developmental Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
M C
MC
Batista
N
N
Bravo
T P
TP
Cartledge
A W
AW
Zellmer
G R
GR
Merriam
D L
DL
Loriaux
L K
LK
Nieman
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins; C045246:PAEP protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D011374:Progesterone