title: Predictive value of serum β-hCG for early pregnancy outcomes among women with recurrent spontaneous abortion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine peak serum levels of the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) for prediction of early pregnancy outcomes among women with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a retrospective study, the medical records of pregnant women with a history of RSA treated at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, China, between January 2011 and July 2013 were reviewed. Serum β-hCG had been measured twice weekly from 5 to 13weeks of pregnancy, and pregnancy was monitored by transvaginal ultrasonography to 13(+6)weeks. Optimal cutoff for peak β-hCG level was determined by receiver operator characteristic curve analysis and Youden index. Women were divided into four groups on the basis of optimal peak β-hCG cutoff and pregnancy outcome (pregnancy at 13weeks or spontaneous abortion). Peak β-hCG levels and length of pregnancy at this peak were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 1240 patients were included. The optimal cutoff value of peak β-hCG was 88 468IU/L, with a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for successful pregnancy of 95.6%, 88.0%, 95.6%, and 89.0%, respectively. A faster rise in β-hCG, higher peak β-hCG, and longer pregnancy length at peak β-hCG were associated with successful early pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A cutoff value of serum β-hCG of 88 000IU/L could be used to predict early pregnancy outcomes for women with a history of RSA.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Yinglin
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Yukun
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Xuejiao
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Xuedan
authors: X
authors: Jiao
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Rui
authors: R
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: zjp2570@126.com.
authors: Jianping
authors: J
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D012372:ROC Curve; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human
keywords: Early pregnancy outcome; First trimester; Recurrent spontaneous abortion; β-Subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG)