CA-125 levels in threatened abortion, ectopic, and normal pregnancy

Determination of the best diagnostic methods for ectopic preg-nancy (EP) and threatened abortion is important specially to improve the final prognosis. The aim was to determine the CA-125 level in cases of EP and threatened abortion in comparison with control subjects.

In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 90 consec-utive women attending to Shohada-e-Tajrish and Mahdieh Hospitals in Teh-ran including those with EP and threatened abortion and control subjects were enrolled where CA-125 level was determined and compared across the three groups.

CA-125 level was significantly different across the groups (P<0.005) and in paired comparisons it was higher in threatened abortion cases versus control subjects (P<0.003). However, it was not significantly different between the other groups (P > 0.05).

Overall, it was found that the serum CA-125 level was higher in threatened abortion cases but not significantly in EP cases. Hence, use of this marker may be helpful in diagnosis of threatened abortion.