Predictive value of human chorionic gonadotrophin beta-hCG in early pregnancy after assisted conception.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to evaluate the predictive value of beta-hCG levels in predicting the pregnancy outcome.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis was done on 423 pregnant patients following assisted conception (stimulated in vitro fertilization [SIVF] and stimulated intra uterine insemination [SIUI]). These were monitored with plasma beta-hCG on day +18 post hCG injection. Ongoing pregnancy was defined as greater than 20 weeks.


RESULTS
Four hundred twenty three patients had a positive serum quantitative beta-hCG level 18 days post hCG injection. Of these 321 (75.9%) were ongoing pregnancies. The spontaneous miscarriages were 98 (23.2%), and four ectopic pregnancies were recorded. Of the successful pregnancies, 279 were single births, and 42 were multiple births (15.1%), that is either twins (31) or triplets (11). Tables were calculated to help predicting the pregnancy outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
It can be shown that +18 levels of beta-hCG in cases of assisted conception are useful and provide predictive information concerning pregnancy outcome which should be helpful for the staff and the infertility patients.
Zayed
F
F
Jordan University of Science and Technology, Amman. fhmzayed@just.edu.jo
Ghazawi
I
I
Francis
L
L
Alchalabi
H
H
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000097:blood; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007315:Insemination, Artificial; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000097:blood; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D012016:Reference Values; D012099:Reproductive Techniques; D014310:Triplets; D014427:Twins
D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human