Circulating levels of placental protein 14 in ectopic pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE

To determine circulating levels of placental protein 14 (PP14) in complications of early pregnancy.

DESIGN

Biochemical monitoring of women presenting with vaginal bleeding and/or abdominal pain.

SETTING

An emergency gynaecological ultrasound clinic in a London teaching hospital.

SUBJECTS

Venous blood samples were obtained from 67 women with normal pregnancy (n = 9), ectopic pregnancy (n = 26) and failed intrauterine pregnancy (n = 32). This group included anembryonic pregnancy (n = 18), missed miscarriage (n = 2), spontaneous miscarriage of a previously demonstrated live fetus (n = 6), incomplete miscarriage (n = 4), complete miscarriage (n = 1) and molar pregnancy (n = 1).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Serum PP14 levels in the group of women with a failed intrauterine pregnancy in relation to the normal range for PP14.

RESULTS

Eighty-one percent of women who miscarried spontaneously had normal serum PP14 levels; 81% of women with ectopic pregnancy had depressed (< 5th centile) serum PP14 levels.

CONCLUSION

Measurements of PP14 may be useful in distinguishing spontaneous miscarriage from ectopic pregnancy, but not in the management of threatened miscarriage.