[The role of serum beta-HCG levels for the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy].

The study includes 56 cases of women admitted at Second gynaecology clinic of the University Maternity Hospital Sofia with evidence or suspicion of having an ectopic pregnancy who had their serum beta-HCG levels determined quantitatively. 27 of them showed no beta-HCG in their sera and none turned out to have pregnancy, neither intrauterine nor ectopic. All cases of ectopic pregnancies (a total of 20) were associated with detectable beta-HCG levels in the serum. The great diagnostic value of serum beta-HCG is emphasized in the cases of old disturbed ectopic pregnancies accompanied by mild and uncommon symptoms and very low beta-HCG levels. In case of unruptured pregnancies or tubal rupture the diagnosis is verified before the result is available by the clinical and sonographic data. On the other hand the high sensitivity of the method leads to an increased number of cases with elevated beta-HCG in which the location of the pregnancy cannot be proven. The precise quantitative evaluation of serum beta-HCG enables us to follow the tendency of beta-HCG which may according to the clinical manifestations warrant invasive diagnostic procedures or just observation without active interference.