title: Screening for multiple pregnancy. Determination of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), alpha-fetoprotein (alpha-FP) and human placental lactogen (hPL) in blood during the second trimester of pregnancy.
abstract: The value of single determinations of serum hCG, hPL, and alpha FP for the detection of multiple pregnancy was investigated in a consecutive series of 992 women between the 14th and 24th week of pregnancy. With the 90th percentile as referent value, all twin pregnancies (n = 10) were detected by the combined results of the three determinations. Considered separately, hPL proved to be the most useful indicator of multiple gestation; the sensitivity of hPL alone was 70% and the predictive value of hPL concentrations above the 90th percentile was 8.1.
mesh_terms: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010928:Placental Lactogen / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011258:Pregnancy Tests; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014427:Twins; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D010928:Placental Lactogen