Endocrinologic and ultrasonographic study in early pregnancy loss

ABSTRACT

Fifteen cases of early pregnancy loss [EPL] and 10 cases with normal singleton pregnancy has been followed up by ultrasonography as well as assessment of serum Estradiol [E[2]] progesterone [P. human chorionic gonadotropin [HCG] and human placental lactogen [HPL] starting as early as 3 weeks from the last menstrual period till the occurrence of abortion or till 12 weeks of pregnancy. The results showed that 73.3% of cases of EPL were anembryonic pregnancy. The results of hormonal assay showed that in the first 4 - 6 weeks of pregnancy hormone levels were not significantly different in the EPL from that in the control group and this denotes that the corpus luteum function is normal in EPL. IT is the placenta which fails to contribute to hormone production in EPL and this placental failure occurs earlier [between 6-8 weeks] in respect to steroid production but the ability of the placenta to produce HCG and HPL is preserved although at a considerably lower level than normal during the first 8- 10 weeks. So ultrasonography is mandatory in the management of EPL and hormone prophylaxis seems unnecessary, as the corpus luteum function is normal