SERUM LEVELS OF STEROID AND PLACENTAL PROTEIN HORMONES IN ECTOPIC PREGNANCY

The hormonal profiles of extra-uterine pregnancies (EP) were compared with the normal intra-uterine pregnancies (IUP), and threatened abortions (TA) of good outcome. In 45 cases of EP confirmed histologically, maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), pregnancy specific beta-1-glycoprotein (SP1), 17-beta-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) were measured serially before treatment by enzyme immunoassays (EIA). The same hormones were also determined in the control groups, 26 with normal IUP and 24 with TA. All four hormone levels in EP were significantly lower (P < 0.01 - P < 0.0001) than in normal pregnancies and threatened abortions of matched gestational age except the hCG and E2 in the fifth week of pregnancy. The mean values of E2 and P were found in the normal levels of luteal phase or slightly over them (8th-9th and 9th-10th weeks, respectively). No increase in the hormonal profiles of the above two steroids was noticed between 5 and 10 weeks' gestation in EP. In conclusion: (a) The significantly lower values of hCG and SP1 in EP were confirmed; (b) the serial and concurrent hormonal measurements assure the verification of EP and the differentiation from normal IUP and TA of good outcome; (c) the ectopic implantation of trophoblast critically reduces its vitability to hCG and SP1 synthesis and it can only partially compensate for the reduction of corpus luteum function.