Background: The ultrasound, serum beta-HCG and progesterone titres are widely used to assess the risk of miscarriage at the early stages of pregnancy. Though very useful, they are not considered as satisfactorily accurate predictors of imminent abortion during the first three months of pregnancy.
Aim of study: Prospective evaluation of clinical usefulness of serum CA125 from 4-12th week of pregnancy in a group of women with symptoms of imminent abortion.
Material and methods: A study group were 250 consecutive women with symptoms of imminent abortion. Inclusion criteria were: abdominal pain, spotting, ultrasound picture of the embryo in the uterus, monovular pregnancy, normal ultrasound picture of ovaries, gestational age ranging from 4-12 weeks (assessed on a last menstrual period basis with ultrasound corroboration). 55 women with physiological course of pregnancy made up a control group. CA125 levels was evaluated with Roche Cobas Core CA125 II EIA.
Results: In patients with symptoms of imminent abortion, serum CA125 titration in 4 to 12 weeks' gestation seems to be valuable only in woman with vaginal spotting or bleeding.