Decreases in adrenomedullin expression and ciliary beat frequency in the nasal epithelium in tubal pregnancy.

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.