Serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin levels and preeclampsia

ABSTRACT

Preeclampsia is one of the most common complications of pregnancy. It is a trophoblastic disorder. Since human chorionic gonadotropin [hCG] is secreted by trophoblast, the purpose of the study was to determine the levels of beta [hCG] in preeclampsia and normal cases. This study was conducted on 40 term pregnant women with preeclampsia [case group] and 40 normal pregnant cases [control group] in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University, Babol, Iran, from 2004 to 2005. Serum beta-hCG in all cases were measured by radioimmunoassay. The mean beta-hCG level in preeclampsia [mild and severe] was compared with normal cases. The maternal serum, beta-hCG level in patients with preeclampsia [39840 +/- 24630 IU/L] was higher than in the control group [27460 +/- 25862 IU/L] [p=0.031]. In mild preeclampsia [34 cases], the mean serum beta-hCG level was 31991 +/- 16758 IU/L while in severe preeclampsia [6 cases] 84312 +/- 9257 IU/L [p<0.0001]. The mean serum beta-hCG level in mild and severe preeclampsia was higher compared to the normal cases. The results of this study show that the levels of beta-hCG in severe form of preeclampsia is higher compared to the milder ones