Parvin Gharabaghi - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alzahra Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences,Tabriz, Iran
Seddighe Abdollahifard - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alzahra Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences,Tabriz, Iran
Manizheh Gharabaghi - Department of Pediatrics, Alzahra Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Mohammad Nouri - Department of Biochemistry, Alzahra Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

Background: The value of serial measurement of serum ß subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (ßHCG) and ultrasonography in the early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy has well established. Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the diagnostic value of raisinglevel of serum ßHCG, single measurement of progesterone (P) and estradiol (E2) in early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. Materials and Methods: Serum levels of ßHCG and estradiol were measured by RadioImmuno Sorbent Assay (RIA) and progesterone level was measured by Enzyme LinkedImmuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) techniques in 43 symptomatic women with ectopic pregnancy and 42 women with normal intrauterine pregnancy in Alzahra Hospital, Tabriz, Iran. These values were compared by T-test. By determining cut-off levels of these parameters the efficiency and sensitivity of them in prediction of ectopicpregnancy was estimated. Results: The mean serum levels of ßHCG, estradiol and progesterone in patients with ectopic pregnancies (940 ± 552 mlu/ml, 593 ± 237 pg/ml, 5.83 ± 3.41 ng/ml, respectively) were significantly lower than these levels in normal intrauterinepregnancies (4620 ± 2030 mlu/ml, 1627 ± 435 pg/ml, 24.8 ± 6.08 ng/ml, respectively). The average rate of ßHCG rising was 8.2% for 24 hours in patients with ectopicpregnancy (EP) and 32.8% in normal intrauterine pregnancies (NIUP). Conclusions In this study single measurement of serum progesterone level has the greatest sensitivity (100%) and specificity (98%) in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy.

Beta subunit of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (ßHCG), Estradiol, Progesterone, Ectopic pregnancy,Normal intrauterine pregnancy