Mid-trimester maternal serum hCG levels in predicting adverse pregnancy outcome.
OBJECTIVE
In this prospective study, we investigated the association between mid-trimester maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin (ms-hCG) levels and adverse pregnancy outcome in a South-Western Greek population.


METHODS
130 healthy Greek women with spontaneous pregnancies were investigated for ms-hCG levels between the 13th and 24th weeks of gestation and followed for adverse pregnancy outcome, hCG levels > 2.0 multiples of the median value for gestation were considered abnormal. Statistical analysis was performed by Pearson's chi-square test.


RESULTS
Gestational complications developed in a total of 12 of the 130 women studied (9.23%). Elevated ms-hCG levels were detected in a total of 14 of the 130 women studied (10.77%).


CONCLUSIONS
Multiparameter testing of placental function in the mid-trimester (uterine artery Doppler, placental morphology and ms-hCG screening) may allow us to identify women with increased risk of developing severe placental insufficiency and pregnancy complications.
Androutsopoulos
G
G
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Patras Medical School, Rion, Greece. androutsopoulosgeorgios@hotmail.com
Gkogkos
P
P
Vassilakos
P
P
Panayiotakis
G
G
Decavalas
G
G
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000097:blood*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin