The hormonal profiles of extra-uterine pregnancies (EP) were compared
with the normal intra-uterine pregnancies (IUP), and threatened
abortions (TA) of good outcome. In 45 cases of EP confirmed
histologically, maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG),
pregnancy specific beta-1-glycoprotein (SP1), 17-beta-estradiol (E2) and
progesterone (P) were measured serially before treatment by enzyme
immunoassays (EIA). The same hormones were also determined in the
control groups, 26 with normal IUP and 24 with TA. All four hormone
levels in EP were significantly lower (P < 0.01 - P < 0.0001) than in
normal pregnancies and threatened abortions of matched gestational age
except the hCG and E2 in the fifth week of pregnancy. The mean values
of E2 and P were found in the normal levels of luteal phase or slightly
over them (8th-9th and 9th-10th weeks, respectively). No increase in
the hormonal profiles of the above two steroids was noticed between 5
and 10 weeks’ gestation in EP.
In conclusion: (a) The significantly lower values of hCG and SP1 in EP
were confirmed; (b) the serial and concurrent hormonal measurements
assure the verification of EP and the differentiation from normal IUP
and TA of good outcome; (c) the ectopic implantation of trophoblast
critically reduces its vitability to hCG and SP1 synthesis and it can
only partially compensate for the reduction of corpus luteum function
