The value of vascular endothelial growth factor, pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A, and progesterone for early differentiation of ectopic pregnancies, normal intrauterine pregnancies, and spontaneous miscarriages

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the capacity of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), and progesterone (P) to discriminate ectopic pregnancies (EP) from nonectopic ones.

Design: Prospective, case-controlled study.

Setting: Tertiary care center.

Patient(s): Twenty-nine women with EP, 29 women with normal intrauterine pregnancy (nIUP), and 28 women with spontaneous miscarriage, all matched for gestational age.

Intervention(s): Serum samples were obtained.

Main outcome measure(s): Serum concentrations of VEGF, PAPP-A, and P were measured.

Result(s): Serum VEGF concentrations did not show statistically significant differences among women with EP (median, 55.24 pg/mL; range, 0.20-179.24), spontaneous miscarriages (median, 26.24 pg/mL; range, 0.22-365.24), and nIUP (median, 43.24 pg/mL; range, 0.86-101.24). The median level of P was significantly increased in the nIUP group (20.58 ng/mL; range, 13.9-37.04) compared with the other two groups, but there was no statistically significant difference between the spontaneous miscarriage and EP groups. Like P, PAPP-A values were also significantly higher in the nIUP group than in the other two groups, but the difference between PAPP-A values in the EP and spontaneous abortion groups was statistically insignificant.

Conclusion(s): VEGF, PAPP-A, and P cannot be used to diagnose EPs, but PAPP-A and P can at least be used to differentiate abnormal pregnancies.