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.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Patras Medical School, Rion, Greece. androutsopoulosgeorgios@hotmail.com
G
G
Androutsopoulos
P
P
Gkogkos
P
P
Vassilakos
G
G
Panayiotakis
G
G
Decavalas
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