Relation between single serum progesterone assay and viability of the first trimester pregnancy

ObjectiveTo detect the relation between serum progesterone and viability of pregnancy during the first trimester.MethodsTwo hundred and sixty women during the first trimester of their pregnancies were hospitalized due to vaginal bleeding and/or abdominal pain and were included in this study. Women included in this study were: sure of dates, conceived spontaneously with no history of infertility and had a positive serum pregnancy test. Blood samples were taken for women included in this study for serum progesterone assay, they were followed by ultrasound till the end of first trimester for the viability of the pregnancy and the outcome of their pregnancy were recorded.ResultsBy the end of the first trimester, women included in this study were classified into: viable pregnancy group (178 cases, 68.5%) and non-viable pregnancy group (ended by miscarriage) (82 cases, 31.5%). The mean serum progesterone of the studied population was significantly higher in viable pregnancy group (46.5 ± 7.4) ng/mL compared to non-viable pregnancy group (9.9 ± 4.8) ng/mL, (P<0.05). The serum progesterone at cut off level 10 ng/mL was 79.3% sensitive to diagnose non-viable pregnancy and was 93.3% specific to diagnose viable pregnancy, while at cut off level 20 ng/mL it was 95.1% sensitive to diagnose non-viable pregnancy and was 98.9% specific to diagnose viable pregnancy.ConclusionSerum progesterone is a reliable marker for early pregnancy failure and single assay of its serum level can differentiate between viable and non-viable pregnancies.