Abstract
Objective. To evaluate the significance of P-HCG levels in peritoneal fluid and serum in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy.
Study design setting. Obstetrics and Gynecology department of a regional general hospital.
Subjects. Sixty-two women who presented with a differential diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy vs. nonviable intrauterine pregnancy.
Interventions. All patients underwent D & C and culdocentesis. P-HCG was measured in simultaneously obtained peritoneal fluid (PF) and serum (S), and the PFiS ratio calculated.
Results. Twenty-three patients had an ectopic pregnancy (Group I). All 23 had higher β-HCG concentrations in the PF than in the serum, with a mean PFiS ratio of 19.1 ± 16.9. Twenty-four patients had an intrauterine pregnancy (Group II). The β-HCG levels in the PF and serum were similar (mean PF/S 1.1 ±0.2). The difference in PFiS ratio between groups I and II was statistically significant (p<0.001).
Conclusion. The measurement of P-HCG in peritoneal fluid and serum is a useful diagnostic tool in differentiating ectopic from intrauterine pregnancy.