Biomaterial Database

A prospective study of beta HCG radioimmunoassay in the diagnosis of ectopic and other complicated early pregnancies. 1983

S K Khoo, and D Molloy

The beta-subunit of chorionic gonadotrophin (beta HCG) was measured by radioimmunoassay in the serum of 190 consecutive patients admitted to hospital with the suspicion of ectopic pregnancy. The detection limit was set at 1 ng/ml. A urine sample was also taken for pregnancy testing on admission. A positive serum beta HCG result was obtained in 36 patients (19%); pregnancy was confirmed in 32 (ectopic pregnancy 14, abortion 8, continuing normal pregnancy 7, retained products 3), giving a predictive value of 89%. There was poor correlation between serum and urine results. The serum levels were low in patients who subsequently aborted, intermediate in those with ectopic pregnancy and within the normal range in patients in whom the pregnancy continued normally. The high predictive value of the test should identify the patients for further investigation, thus avoiding unnecessary operative procedures and prolonged hospital stay.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011271	Pregnancy, Ectopic	A potentially life-threatening condition in which EMBRYO IMPLANTATION occurs outside the cavity of the UTERUS. Most ectopic pregnancies (>96%) occur in the FALLOPIAN TUBES, known as TUBAL PREGNANCY. They can be in other locations, such as UTERINE CERVIX; OVARY; and abdominal cavity (PREGNANCY, ABDOMINAL).	Ectopic Pregnancy,Pregnancy, Extrauterine,Ectopic Pregnancies,Extrauterine Pregnancies,Extrauterine Pregnancy,Pregnancies, Ectopic,Pregnancies, Extrauterine
D011863	Radioimmunoassay	Classic quantitative assay for detection of antigen-antibody reactions using a radioactively labeled substance (radioligand) either directly or indirectly to measure the binding of the unlabeled substance to a specific antibody or other receptor system. Non-immunogenic substances (e.g., haptens) can be measured if coupled to larger carrier proteins (e.g., bovine gamma-globulin or human serum albumin) capable of inducing antibody formation.	Radioimmunoassays
D005188	False Negative Reactions	Negative test results in subjects who possess the attribute for which the test is conducted. The labeling of diseased persons as healthy when screening in the detection of disease. (Last, A Dictionary of Epidemiology, 2d ed)	False Negative Reaction,Reaction, False Negative,Reactions, False Negative
D005189	False Positive Reactions	Positive test results in subjects who do not possess the attribute for which the test is conducted. The labeling of healthy persons as diseased when screening in the detection of disease. (Last, A Dictionary of Epidemiology, 2d ed)	False Positive Reaction,Positive Reaction, False,Positive Reactions, False,Reaction, False Positive,Reactions, False Positive
D005260	Female		Females
D006063	Chorionic Gonadotropin	A gonadotropic glycoprotein hormone produced primarily by the PLACENTA. Similar to the pituitary LUTEINIZING HORMONE in structure and function, chorionic gonadotropin is involved in maintaining the CORPUS LUTEUM during pregnancy. CG consists of two noncovalently linked subunits, alpha and beta. Within a species, the alpha subunit is virtually identical to the alpha subunits of the three pituitary glycoprotein hormones (TSH, LH, and FSH), but the beta subunit is unique and confers its biological specificity (CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN, BETA SUBUNIT, HUMAN).	Chorionic Gonadotropin, Human,HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin),Biogonadil,Choriogonadotropin,Choriogonin,Chorulon,Gonabion,Human Chorionic Gonadotropin,Pregnyl,Gonadotropin, Chorionic,Gonadotropin, Human Chorionic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000022	Abortion, Spontaneous	Expulsion of the product of FERTILIZATION before completing the term of GESTATION and without deliberate interference.	Abortion, Tubal,Early Pregnancy Loss,Miscarriage,Spontaneous Abortion,Abortions, Spontaneous,Abortions, Tubal,Early Pregnancy Losses,Loss, Early Pregnancy,Losses, Early Pregnancy,Miscarriages,Pregnancy Loss, Early,Pregnancy Losses, Early,Spontaneous Abortions,Tubal Abortion,Tubal Abortions