Levels of human chorionic gonadotropin in unruptured and ruptured ectopic pregnancy

Eighty-eight presenting with signs and symptoms that suggested ectopic pregnancy, all of whom had a positive radioreceptorassay (Biocept-G), were studied. Sixty-one patients (69%) were found to have intrauterine pregnancy. Twelve (14%) had unruptured tubal ectopic pregnancy with a mean (+/- SEM) human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) level of 1190 +/- 320 mIU/ml, whereas 15 (17%) with ruptured ectopic pregnancies had a mean hCG level of 4160 +/- 400 mIU/ml. Among these 2 types of ectopic pregnancy, the mean hCG levels were statistically different (t = 5.0, P less than .001). Possible reasons for these differences are suggested, and the clinical implications of this finding are discussed.