Objective: To study adrenomedullin (ADM) expression and its relation to ciliary beat frequency (CBF) in the nasal mucociliated epithelium in tubal ectopic pregnancy (tEP).
Design: Experimental study.
Setting: University teaching hospital.
Patient(s): Women with tEP and normal intrauterine pregnancy matched for age and gestational age were recruited. Healthy nonpregnant women were also recruited as nonpregnant controls.
Intervention(s): Nasal epithelial brushing.
Main outcome measure(s): Adrenomedullin expression in nasal epithelium (measured by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, plasma ADM concentration (measured by ELISA), and CBF (measured by photometric method).
Result(s): We have demonstrated a similar decrease in ADM expression and CBF in the nasal mucociliated epithelium, as well as in plasma ADM concentration, in women with tEP compared with normal pregnant women. Adrenomedullin up-regulates nasal CBF via the ADM receptor, as in the oviduct. There is significant correlation between nasal and oviductal CBF.
Conclusion(s): Nasal epithelium ADM and CBF, as well as plasma ADM, are possible predictors of women at risk of tEP.
Keywords: Adrenomedullin; ciliary beat frequency; nasal ciliated epithelium; tubal ectopic pregnancy.
Copyright © 2013 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.