CA-125 IS ELEVATED IN VIABLE PREGNANCIES DESTINED TO BE MISCARRIED - A PROSPECTIVE LONGITUDINAL-STUDY

Objective: To assess the predictive value of E(2), hCG, CA-125, and mo rphometric parameters in early pregnancies with demonstrable fetal hea rtbeat, complicated by bleeding. Design: Prospective longitudinal foll ow-up. Setting: The emergency service of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, ''Rebecca Sieff'' Hospital, Safed, Israel. Patients: T wenty-five consecutive patients with vaginal bleeding during weeks 7 t o 12 of pregnancy who had demonstrable fetal heartbeat. Ten women with normal pregnancies, serving as controls. Main Outcome Measure: The se rum levels and the morphometric parameters were related to the outcome of pregnancy as revealed by future hospitalization, delivery, or tele phone questioning. Results: In the five patients who eventually aborte d, the values of CA-125 were >125 U/mL, whereas none of the successful pregnancies had a value >93 U/mL. The mean values were 133 +/- 4.85 v ersus 36.95 +/- 23.1 U/mL for miscarriages and successful pregnancies, respectively. In normal pregnancies the respective value was 32.3 +/- 4.3 U/mL. Although mean E(2) levels were lower in the serum of women who eventually aborted, there was a significant overlap of values with the successful pregnancies. All the other parameters measured had no correlation to the outcome of these pregnancies. Conclusion: CA-125 ma y serve as an accurate predictor of the outcome in early pregnancies w ith demonstrable fetal heartbeat, which are complicated by bleeding.