title: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and discrimination between abnormal intrauterine and ectopic pregnancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study evaluated serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in women with abnormal intrauterine and ectopic pregnancies (EP) at 6 weeks gestation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective case-control study comparing serum VEGF concentrations among 84 women with abnormal intrauterine and EP matched for gestational age (42 women in each group). We analysed whether serum VEGF levels >200 pg/ml would discriminate between abnormal intrauterine pregnancies and EP at 6 weeks gestation, and we calculated sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum VEGF concentrations did not show statistically significant differences between women with abnormal intrauterine pregnancies (median, 198.5 pg/ml; range, 0-701.6) and EP (median, 211.2 pg/ml; range 0-628.8). When threshold concentrations of a serum VEGF level >200 pg/ml were used, abnormal intrauterine pregnancy could be distinguished from EP with a sensitivity of 56%, a specificity of 51%, and a positive predictive value of 53%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VEGF does not discriminate ectopic from abnormal intrauterine pregnancies at 6 weeks gestation, and thus should not be used in clinical management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University of Vienna, Waehringer-Guertel 18-20, Austria. elisabeth.kucera@akh-wien.ac.at
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kucera-Sliutz
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schiebel
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: König
authors.forename: Sepp
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leodolter
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sliutz
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koelbl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors