[Significance of the detection of early pregnancy factor for monitoring normal and disordered early pregnancy].

In twenty patients with the tentative diagnosis of disturbed early pregnancy, the early pregnancy factor (EPF) was estimated by means of the rosette inhibition test and the early pregnancy associated protein (EPAP) by rocket-immunoelectrophoresis. The results were compared with hCG concentrations in the urine, beta-hCG concentrations in the serum as well as with clinical and sonographical findings. In intact pregnancies, positive EPF values are an additional sign of embryonic viability. Negative EPF values can be an early indicator for pregnancy losses. The diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy can be confirmed by negative EPF values in spite of elevated hCG levels and uncertain sonographic findings. In cases of missed abortion the EPF estimation was always negative in contrast to other parameters of pregnancy. EPF detection may be helpful to differentiate menstruation disorders and early pregnancy losses. Because of its longer half-life, the EPAP is not such a sensitive parameter for early pregnancy disturbances as the EPF.