BETA-HCG CONCENTRATION IN PERITONEAL-FLUID AND SERUM IN ECTOPIC AND INTRAUTERINE PREGNANCY

Objective. To evaluate the significance of beta-HCG levels in peritone al fluid and serum in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy Study design setting. Obstetrics and Gynecology department of a regional general ho spital. Subjects. Sixty-two women who presented with a differential di agnosis of ectopic pregnancy vs. nonviable intrauterine pregnancy. Int erventions. All patients underwent D and C and culdocentesis. beta-HCG was measured in simultaneously obtained peritoneal fluid (PF) and ser um (S), and the PF/S ratio calculated. Results. Twenty-three patients had an ectopic pregnancy (Group I). All 23 had higher beta-HCG concent rations in the PF than in the serum, with a mean PF/S ratio of 19.1 +/ - 16.9. Twenty-four patients had an intrauterine pregnancy (Group II). The beta-HCG levels in the PF and serum were similar (mean PF/S 1.1 /- 0.2). The difference in PF/S ratio between groups I and II was stat istically significant (p<0.001). Conclusion. The measurement of beta-H CG in peritoneal fluid and serum is a useful diagnostic tool in differ entiating ectopic from intrauterine pregnancy.