Metabolomic identification of novel diagnostic biomarkers in ectopic pregnancy.

Onur Turkoglu, Beaumont Health
Ayse Citil, Beaumont Health
Praveen Kumar, Beaumont Health
Ali Yilmaz, Beaumont Health
Dilek S. Uygur, Beaumont Health
Salim Erkaya, Beaumont Health
Stewart F. Graham, Beaumont Health
Ray O. Bahado-Singh, Beaumont Health

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is a potentially life-threatening condition and early diagnosis still remains a challenge, causing a delay in management leading to tubal rupture.

OBJECTIVES: To identify putative plasma biomarkers for the detection of tubal EP and elucidate altered biochemical pathways in EP compared to intrauterine pregnancies.

METHODS: This case-control study included prospective recruitment of 39 tubal EP cases and 89 early intrauterine pregnancy controls. Plasma samples were biochemically profiled using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (

RESULTS: In total 13 of 43 (30.3%) metabolite concentrations were significantly altered in EP plasma (p < 0.05). Metabolomic profiling yielded significant separation between EP and controls (p < 0.05). Independent validation of a two-metabolite model consisting of lactate and acetate, achieved an AUC (95% CI) = 0.935 (0.843-1.000) with a sensitivity of 92.3% and specificity of 96.6%. The second metabolite model (D-glucose, pyruvate, acetoacetate) performed well with an AUC (95% CI) = 0.822 (0.657-0.988) and a sensitivity of 84.6% and specificity of 86.2%.

CONCLUSION: We report novel metabolomic biomarkers with a high accuracy for the detection of EP. Accurate biomarkers could potentially result in improved early diagnosis of tubal EP cases.