Search PubMed⌕ Search
Home/Archive/PubMed

PubMed · 17081933

Ectopic pregnancy.

Jan M Kriebs·Jenifer O Fahey
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

The incidence of ectopic pregnancy in the United States has been reported to be as high as 20 per 1000 pregnancies, a more than 4-fold increase over the last 20 years. Clinical presentation can range from subtle, nonspecific abdominal complaints to acute onset pain or hemorrhagic bleeding. This article reviews the associated risk factors, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of ectopic pregnancy. Clinicians must maintain a high index of suspicion whenever women who might be pregnant have abdominal complaints.

Explore related subjects

Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, HumanDiagnosis, DifferentialFemaleHumansIncidenceNurse's RolePregnancyPregnancy, EctopicPregnancy, High-RiskPrenatal CareUltrasonographyUnited StatesWomen's HealthJournal ArticleReview

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Jan M Kriebs, Jenifer O Fahey. Ectopic pregnancy.. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmwh.2006.07.008

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

PubMed2007

Paraneoplastic syndromes in patients with primary head and neck cancer.

Paraneoplastic syndromes represent the clinical manifestations of the indirect and remote effects produced by tumor metabolites or other products. The clinical spectrum of the various paraneoplastic syndromes related to primary malignancies of the head and neck region is presented. A review of the literature on paraneoplastic syndromes in patients with primary head and neck cancer was carried out. Paraneoplastic syndromes related to primary malignancies of the head and neck region can be categorized as: endocrine, cutaneous or dermatologic, hematologic, neurologic, osteoarticular or rheumatologic, ocular syndromes. Sometimes, paraneoplastic syndromes can be more serious than the consequences of the primary tumor itself and can precede, follow or be concurrent to the diagnosis of a malignancy; moreover, they can dominate the clinical picture and thus lead to errors with respect to the origin and type of the primary tumor. Physicians who deal with cancer-associated syndromes should be able to differentiate the paraneoplastic syndromes from the benign disorders that mimic them. Patients with a suspected paraneoplastic disorder should undergo a complete panel of laboratory studies, in addition to imaging studies and endoscopy. Identification of paraneoplastic syndromes allow the clinician to make an early diagnosis and to provide adequate treatment of tumors, with a favorable oncologic outcome and improved life expectancy for the patient. These syndromes can follow the clinical course of the tumor and thus be useful for monitoring its evolution.

Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human↗
PubMed2006

Detection of human chorionic gonadotrophin-beta in serum or urine of prostate cancer patients is of no clinical significance.

The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the potential role of elevated urinary/serum human chorionic gonadotrophin-beta (hCGbeta) in prostate cancer prognosis. 104 patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancers were included; 68 patients had organ-confined, 18 had locally advanced and 18 had metastatic disease. A control group consisted of 115 patients presenting with benign prostatic disease. Serum and urinary total hCGbeta was measured prior to treatment and serum PSA was measured at diagnosis. The patients were treated along conventional lines and progression-free survival was assessed. Four patients had elevated serum and 10 had elevated urinary, total hCGbeta. There were no significant correlations between serum/urinary levels of hCGbeta and tumour stage, Gleason score or PSA. In contrast, serum PSA had significant linear correlations with both clinical tumour stage and Gleason score (p = 0.0001). At a median follow-up of 36 months, 22 (21.2%) patients had died while 17 (16.3%) others had progressed. Kaplan-Meier plots and log-rank test revealed no significant difference in progression-free survival between patients with elevated or normal levels of serum and/or urinary total hCGbeta. Clinical tumour stage, grade and PSA were statistically significant prognostic variables. Immunoassay measurement of serum or urinary hCGbeta has no significant role in the clinical management of prostate cancer.

Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human↗
PubMed2006

Syncytiotrophoblastic vesicles in placental intervillous space.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to investigate the origin and function of vesicles found in the intervillous space. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study was performed by using placental sections of different gestational ages. The number of vesicles was counted in each section of gestational age groups. Immunohistochemical staining for beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) and human placental lactogen (hPL) was conducted to confirm the origin of vesicles. RESULTS: Staining for beta-hCG and hPL was prominent in vesicles separating from syncytiotrophoblast into the intervillous space. The numbers of vesicles were not significantly different in gestational age groups of 42 to 30 weeks and all vesicles disappeared in 9- to 5-week groups. Large vesicles tended to show degeneration and disintegration in the intervillous space. CONCLUSION: The vesicles containing beta-hCG and hPL suggest a different secretory mechanism of syncytiotrophoblast.

Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human↗