Serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin levels and preeclampsia

OBJECTIVE: 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.

METHODS: 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.

RESULTS: 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.

CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that the levels of beta-hCG in severe form of preeclampsia is higher compared to the milder ones.