The value of vascular endothelial growth factor, pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A, and progesterone for early differentiation of ectopic pregnancies, normal intrauterine pregnancies, and spontaneous miscarriages.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the capacity of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), and progesterone (P) to discriminate ectopic pregnancies (EP) from nonectopic ones.


METHODS
Prospective, case-controlled study.


METHODS
Tertiary care center.


METHODS
Twenty-nine women with EP, 29 women with normal intrauterine pregnancy (nIUP), and 28 women with spontaneous miscarriage, all matched for gestational age.


METHODS
Serum samples were obtained.


METHODS
Serum concentrations of VEGF, PAPP-A, and P were measured.


RESULTS
Serum VEGF concentrations did not show statistically significant differences among women with EP (median, 55.24 pg/mL; range, 0.20-179.24), spontaneous miscarriages (median, 26.24 pg/mL; range, 0.22-365.24), and nIUP (median, 43.24 pg/mL; range, 0.86-101.24). The median level of P was significantly increased in the nIUP group (20.58 ng/mL; range, 13.9-37.04) compared with the other two groups, but there was no statistically significant difference between the spontaneous miscarriage and EP groups. Like P, PAPP-A values were also significantly higher in the nIUP group than in the other two groups, but the difference between PAPP-A values in the EP and spontaneous abortion groups was statistically insignificant.


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF, PAPP-A, and P cannot be used to diagnose EPs, but PAPP-A and P can at least be used to differentiate abnormal pregnancies.
Ugurlu
Evin Nil
EN
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr Zekai Tahir Burak Woman Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. evin.nilugurlu@gmail.com
Ozaksit
Gulnur
G
Karaer
Abdullah
A
Zulfikaroglu
Ebru
E
Atalay
Aral
A
Ugur
Mustafa
M
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A / Q000032:analysis*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D011374:Progesterone; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A