Failure of creatine kinase to predict ectopic pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate serum creatine kinase (CK) levels in pregnant women with ectopic pregnancy (EP), spontaneous abortion, and normal pregnancy with comparable serum hCG concentrations.

DESIGN

A retrospective, case-controlled study.

SETTING

Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.

PATIENTS

Forty-four patients with a suspicion of EP of which 15 had laparoscopically confirmed tubal pregnancies; 15 had a spontaneous abortion, a blighted ovum, or a missed abortion; and 14 patients a normal intrauterine pregnancy.

INTERVENTIONS

The diagnosis was made by transvaginal sonography and serum hCG determinations either at admission or after repeated examinations. Ectopic pregnancy was confirmed and treated by laparoscopy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Serum CK and hCG levels.

RESULTS

No significant differences in CK levels were observed between the groups by one-way analysis of variance and no correlation was found between serum CK and hCG levels within any group.

CONCLUSIONS

Creatine kinase does not appear to be useful in the diagnosis of early EP.