help button home button Endocrine Society JCEM JCEM Call for Nominations for EIC
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Submit a related Letter to the Editor
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Barnea, E. R.
Right arrow Articles by DeCherney, A. H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Barnea, E. R.
Right arrow Articles by DeCherney, A. H.

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 62, 529-531, Copyright © 1986 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Progesterone, estradiol, and alpha-human chorionic gonadotropin secretion in patients with ectopic pregnancy

ER Barnea, G Oelsner, R Benveniste, R Romero and AH DeCherney

Plasma free alpha hCG, estradiol (E2), and progesterone (P4) concentrations were measured in 38 patients with histologically confirmed ectopic pregnancy (EP). The menstrual gestational ages ranged from 6-10 weeks. Free alpha hCG levels, although significantly lower than those in women with a normal intrauterine pregnancy, increased markedly during this time period, from 1.5 to 11 ng/ml, a 7-fold increase. In women with an intrauterine pregnancy, only 0.6-fold increase occurred during the same time period. Plasma P4 and E2 concentrations in patients with EP were significantly lower, except at 6 weeks for E2 and in the sixth and seventh weeks for P4. The ectopically implanted trophoblast undergoes impairment of its ability to synthesize beta hCG, but not alpha hCG. The lack of utilization of alpha hCG in EP causes it to increase, while the level of intact hCG is low. These observations suggest that the levels of alpha hCG are a sensitive marker for placental well-being, and that it could serve as an additional diagnostic tool for the early diagnosis of EP. The placenta is only partially able to compensate for the reduced ovarian production of E2 and P4.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
R. Shao, B. Weijdegard, J. Fernandez-Rodriguez, E. Egecioglu, C. Zhu, N. Andersson, A. Thurin-Kjellberg, C. Bergh, and H. Billig
Ciliated epithelial-specific and regional-specific expression and regulation of the estrogen receptor-beta2 in the fallopian tubes of immature rats: a possible mechanism for estrogen-mediated transport process in vivo
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, July 1, 2007; 293(1): E147 - E158.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Clin. Chem.Home page
P. T.A. Borrelli, S. A. Butler, S. M. Docherty, E. M. Staite, A. L. Borrelli, and R. K. Iles
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Isoforms in the Diagnosis of Ectopic Pregnancy
Clin. Chem., December 1, 2003; 49(12): 2045 - 2049.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Endocrinology Endocrine Reviews J. Clin. End. & Metab.
Molecular Endocrinology Recent Prog. Horm. Res. All Endocrine Journals
Copyright © 1986 by The Endocrine Society