Depressed serum levels of human placental lactogen in first trimester vaginal bleeding.
BACKGROUND
It has previously been shown that serum levels of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) are depressed in patients with early pregnancy bleeding and a live gestation. We examined whether human placental lactogen (hPL) levels show a similar pattern.


METHODS
Prospective study in the 8th-14th gestational week comparing serum levels in 69 women with early pregnancy bleeding with those in 93 control pregnancies.


RESULTS
Serum levels of hPL were significantly depressed in women with early pregnancy bleeding (p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest a primary affection of the placenta in early pregnancy bleeding.
Pedersen
J F
JF
Ultrasound Laboratory, Glostrup Hospital, Denmark.
Ruge
S
S
Sørensen
S
S
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010928:Placental Lactogen / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A / Q000032:analysis*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000097:blood*
D010928:Placental Lactogen; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A