Mc. Batista et al., COMPARATIVE-ANALYSIS OF PROGESTERONE AND PLACENTAL PROTEIN 14 MEASUREMENTS IN THE EVALUATION OF LUTEAL FUNCTION, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 168(5), 1993, pp. 1522-1527
OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of s
ingle or summed measurements of progesterone and placental protein 14,
a progestin-dependent endometrial glycoprotein, in the evaluation of
luteal function. STUDY DESIGN: Forty-five healthy women had daily bloo
d measurements of luteinizing hormone, progesterone, and placental pro
tein 14 during one menstrual cycle. RESULTS: Thirty-nine women had nor
mal and six had deficient luteal function on the basis of serial proge
sterone determinations. Luteal insufficiency was not accurately diagno
sed by single progesterone or placental protein 14 values or by integr
ated placental protein 14 measurements. In contrast, the condition was
correctly identified in all but one cycle when the sum of progesteron
e on days 4 and 7 was < 49 nmol/L (1 5.4 ng/ml). A poor correlation wa
s found between peak or integrated measurements of progesterone and pl
acental protein 14. CONCLUSION: Measurement of serum progesterone, but
not placental protein 14, on 2 days of the midluteal phase provides a
convenient and reliable test of luteal function.