Abstract: BACKGROUND ＆ AIM: To determine whether serum CA_125 and serial β-hCG levels could be used to distinguish between tubal miscarriage and viable ectopic pregnancy (EP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 86 women with EP who were stable and had B_ultrasound, CA_125 and β_hCG tests at admission were studied. 25 of the 86 patients received conservative treatment and 61 were managed surgically by laparoscopy or laparotomy. of the latter group, 20 had proved tubal miscarrige and 41 had active, viable EPs. RESULTS: The mean CA_125 level was 83.69±36.37 IU/ml for the patients with aborted EP, 32.23±19.30 IU/ml for the patients with viable EP，and 64.10±28.33 IU/ml for the patients receiving conservative treatments. The mean β_hCG level was 3 323±2 908 mIU/L for the patients with aborted EP, 12 056±9 138 mIU/L for the patients with viable EP, and 1 878±1 043.5 mIU/L for the patients receiving conservative treatments. Both of the serum CA_125 and β_hCG levels between the aborted and the viable EP groups as well as between the conservative treatment and the viable EP groups showed statistical differences. Linear regression analysis revealed a significant inverse relation between serum CA_125 and β_hCG levels. Spearman nonparametric correlation analysis showed a statistically significant relation between management strategy and both of CA_125 and β_hCG levels. CONCLUSION: The use of CA_125 levels as an adjunct to serial β_hCG levels holds promise as a means for differentiating tubal miscarriage from viable EP.

Key words: serum CA_125, serum β_HCG, ectopic pregnancy, management strategy