Serum CA 125, Progesterone, and βHCG Levels in the Differential Diagnosis of Abortion and Ectopic Pregnancy

This study aimed to investigate the role of serum cancer antigen (CA) 125, progesterone, and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (βHCG) levels in the differential diagnosis of intrauterine pregnancy, complete or incomplete abortion, and extrauterine pregnancy.
This study was carried out in a teaching and research hospital between 2007 and 2009. A total of 175 patients with abortion, tubal ectopic pregnancy, and healthy pregnancy were recruited into the study. Pre- and post-treatment blood levels were compared among the groups.
Serum βHCG levels were higher in cases of normal healthy pregnancy than in cases of abortion and ectopic pregnancy. No difference was observed between serum βHCG levels of abortion and ectopic pregnancy cases. The levels of serum CA 125 in abortions were found to be higher compared with the other two groups. The levels of serum progesterone in cases of ectopic pregnancy were found to be lower compared with the other two groups.
The utilization of the serum βHCG level in the differential diagnosis of normal/abnormal pregnancies and serum CA 125 and progesterone levels in the differential diagnosis of abortion and ectopic pregnancies are alternative parameters.