Predictive value of early human chorionic gonadotrophin serum profiles for fetal growth retardation.
The possibility of using first trimester maternal serum human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) profiles to predict fetal growth retardation (FGR) was tested in 236 women with singleton pregnancies obtained after in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Pregnancies were monitored by serial analysis (two or more) of serum HCG at at least 48 h intervals. Serum was obtained between the 13th and the 35th day after conception (i.e. on the day of IVF). Early miscarriage occurred in 23.7% and FGR in 10.9% of pregnancies. Serum HCG profiles were higher than the 90th and lower than the 10th percentile in 12.3% and 19.5% of the cases respectively. FGR was significantly more frequent in women with serum HCG profiles lower than the 10th percentile than in women with normal profiles (45.5% versus 7.2%; P < 0.001), with a relative risk of 6.5 (95% confidence interval 2.7-15.6). FGR rates were similar in women with normal and high profiles of serum HCG. Pre-eclampsia and premature delivery rates were similar in women with normal and abnormal profiles of serum HCG. First trimester serum HCG should be further investigated as a potential marker of FGR.
Haddad
B
B
Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique, CHI Créteil, 40 avenue de Verdun, 94010 Créteil and Clinique Universitaire Baudelocque, Hôpital Cochin, 123 BD de Port-Royal, 75014 Paris, France.
Abirached
F
F
Louis-Sylvestre
C
C
Le Blond
J
J
Paniel
B J
BJ
Zorn
J R
JR
D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000097:blood; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin