The Ability of a Single Serum Progesterone Value to Identify Abnormal Pregnancies in Patients with Beta‐Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Values Less than 1,000 mlU/mL

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Abstract
Objective: To determine the test performance of a single serum progesterone value Methods: A prospective study of progesterone levels was performed in consecutive ED patients presenting to an urban teaching hospital from December 1995 to March 1997 with abdominal pain and/or vaginal bleeding, a positive qualitative 3‐hCG, and a quantitative β‐hCG value Results: 127 patients met eligibility criteria. 39 patients were excluded, leaving a total of 88 enrolled patients. 76 patients with abnormal pregnancies were identified [9 ectopic pregnancies, 62 abnormal intrauterine pregnancies (IUPs), 5 abnormal IUPs vs ectopic pregnancies], 71 of whom had progesterone values Conclusion: A single progesterone value <5.0 ng/mL has high sensitivity and specificity in detecting abnormal pregnancy in symptomatic ED patients with β‐hCG values < 1,000 mlU/mL. Key words: progesterone; ectopic pregnancy; tubal pregnancy; intrauterine pregnancy; ultrasound; diagnosis.