Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels in ectopic pregnancy. A prospective study.

Serum alpha-fetoprotein estimations were performed in 38 cases of ruptured or leaking ectopic pregnancy and 7 cases of ruptured, haemorrhagic corpus luteum cyst. A wide range of values was obtained, but in ectopic pregnancies, 65% of values were above the median range for each respective week of pregnancy. In 11 patients (29%), serum alpha-fetoprotein values were 2.5 times the median. In 13 patients values were within or below the normal range. The study demonstrated that in most cases of ruptured or leaking ectopic pregnancies serum alpha-fetoprotein values were significantly raised. A smaller subgroup of patients may show very low alpha-fetoprotein values in maternal serum.