title: Serum vascular endothelial growth factor as a possible marker for early ectopic pregnancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study evaluated serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentrations in women with normal intrauterine pregnancy (IUP), arrested IUP and ectopic pregnancy (EP).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective, case-control study evaluating serum VEGF concentrations among 45 early pregnant women who subsequently were found to have an EP, a normal IUP or an arrested IUP (15 women in each group). Patients were stratified according to serum VEGF concentrations above and below 200 pg/ml.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference in VEGF concentrations among women with EP, arrested IUP and normal IUP (306.1 +/- 26.5, 169.7 +/- 16.6 and 27.0 +/- 4.4 pg/ml respectively, P < 0.001). With a cut-off concentration of 200 pg/ml, serum VEGF could distinguish normal IUP from EP with a sensitivity of 88%, a specificity of 100% and a positive predictive value of 100%. Between EP and arrested IUP, the sensitivity was 87.5%, specificity 75% and positive predictive value of 77.8%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VEGF is a potential marker for EP. Its concentrations in women with EP are higher than in those with normal and arrested IUP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, 687 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Afaf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Felemban
authors.forename: Aref
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sammour
authors.forename: Togas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tulandi
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors