Serum inhibin levels are lower in ectopic than intrauterine spontaneously conceived pregnancies.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if serum inhibin concentrations are lower in ectopic (EP) versus intrauterine pregnancies (IUPs) that are conceived spontaneously.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
Academic clinical practice.


METHODS
Serum samples were obtained from 19 women who had EP confirmed at surgery and by pathology. For comparison, serum samples were collected from 24 women of similar chronological and gestational age with sonographic evidence of an IUP.


METHODS
Serum dimeric inhibin-A, total inhibin, P, and hCG.


RESULTS
Serum total and dimeric inhibin concentrations in women with EP were < 60% of the concentrations for women with single IUPs. Total inhibin, but not dimeric inhibin-A, was elevated in maternal serum before week 8 of gestation relative to normal menstrual cycle levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum inhibin concentrations are lower in EP as compared with IUPs that are spontaneously conceived and the relative amounts of dimeric inhibin-A, B, and alpha inhibin subunit in maternal serum may change throughout gestation.
Seifer
D B
DB
Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
Lambert-Messerlian
G M
GM
Canick
J A
JA
Frishman
G N
GN
Schneyer
A L
AL
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000097:blood*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011374:Progesterone; D007265:Inhibins