title: Inhibin A: marker for diagnosis of ectopic and early abnormal pregnancies.
abstract: A prospective case-control study was performed to determine whether inhibin A concentration is a clinically useful marker of ectopic pregnancy (EP). Inhibin A concentration in patients diagnosed with EP by laparoscopic and pathological findings (n = 17) was compared with that in missed miscarriage (n = 35), incomplete miscarriage (n = 14), spontaneous miscarriage (n = 5), threatened miscarriage (n = 6), normal pregnancy (n = 24) and non-pregnant controls (n = 20). The data were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U-test. EP yielded significantly lower inhibin A concentrations compared with normal pregnancy, 12.7 +/- 11.7 versus 237.3 +/- 125.9 pg/ml (P < 0.0002), and similar concentrations to non-pregnant controls (13.3 +/- 14.3 pg/ml). Inhibin A concentrations in abnormal pregnancies were significantly lower than in the normal pregnancy group: missed miscarriage 42.4 +/- 54.9 pg/ml (P < 0.0002); spontaneous miscarriage 47.5 +/- 55.6 pg/ml (P < 0.0002); and incomplete miscarriage 12.2 +/- 10.5 pg/ml (P < 0.0002). Threatened miscarriage was not statistically different to normal pregnancy (183.1 +/- 119.4 pg/ml). Human chorionic gonadotrophin concentrations in EP were not statistically significantly different compared with missed miscarriage and incomplete miscarriage. In conclusion, serum inhibin A concentration may be a reliable marker of EP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lincoln Medical Center, Weill Medical, College of Cornell University, 234-149th Street, Bronx, NY 10451, USA. shimonsegal@aol.com
authors.forename: Shimon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Segal
authors.forename: Hetal
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gor
authors.forename: Nereida
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Correa
authors.forename: Ray
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mercado
authors.forename: Korina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Veenstra
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rivnay
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; C422362:inhibin A; D007265:Inhibins