Human early pregnancy factor: serum concentrations before and after therapeutic abortion in comparison with beta-hCG and an early pregnancy associated protein

Abstract

Serum concentrations of the early pregnancy factor (EPF), beta-hCG and the early pregnancy associated protein (EPAP) were measured in 12 patients before and after therapeutic abortion for social-medical reasons. Detection of EPF was performed by the rosette-inhibition assay, beta-hCG quantification by radioimmunoassay and EPAP measurements by rocket immunoelectrophoresis using a monospecific polyclonal rabbit antiserum. The disappearance rate of EPF after termination of pregnancy was closely correlated with the decrease of beta-hCG concentrations (rpbis = 0.71) and loosely correlated with the decrease of EPAP concentrations (rPbis = 0.43). No correlation has been found between hCG and EPAP values.

PIP: Serum levels of early pregnancy factor (EPF) and early pregnancy- associated protein (EPAP) were measured in 12 women after therapeutic abortion at 10-12 weeks to document their disappearance rate in comparison with that of beta-hCG. EPF was determined with the rosette-inhibition test; EPAP by rocket immunoelectrophoresis; beta-hCG by radioimmunoassay. EPF was undetectable in 50% of women at 5 hours and in 83% 24 hours after termination. This curve closely correlated that of beta-hCG, when plotted by percent maximum level (r=0.71). EPAP fell more slowly, without any relationship to beta-hCG (r=0.43). These results lend more support to the possibility of using EPF as an indicator of disturbed pregnancy, such as imminent or missed abortion.