[Tubal pregnancy: lactate dehydrogenase as a differential diagnostic parameter]

In a prospective study on 104 patients, who were admitted because of a suspected ectopic pregnancy (EU), Serum-lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was evaluated. Referred to the final diagnose patients were divided in four groups: ectopic pregnancy (Group A), abortion (B), intrauterine pregnancy (C) and metrorrhagia or adnexitis (D). LDH values in groups B, C and D were within normal range, values in group A were significantly higher (p less than 0.001). Particularly the comparison "chronic EU" to incomplete abortion showed impressive results: LDH (U/l; mean +/- SD) 300.2 +/- 97.0:133.8 +/- 45.2 (p less than 0.001), Serum LDH seems to be a simple, rapid and reasonable non invasive parameter in pathologic early pregnancy classification.