Elevated second-trimester human chorionic gonadotropin levels in association with poor pregnancy outcome

Objective: Our purpose was to determine whether abnormal pregnancy outcome is associated with elevated maternal serum human chorionic gonad otropin levels.Study Design: Maternal serum a-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin levels were measured in stored second-trimester serum obtained before scheduled genetic amniocentesis from 126 women with poor pregnancy outcomes, excluding aneuploidy and structural abnormalities (complications group), and 126 matched women with normal outcomes (control group).Results: More women with complications had elevated human chorionic gonadotropin levels (≥2.0 multiples of the median) (14%) than did control women (3%) (p = 0.01). Both elevated human chorionic gonadotropin and maternal serum α-fetoprotein levels were significantly associated with preterm delivery and fetal death. Elevated maternal serum α-fetoprotein was significantly associated with early postamniocentesis complications and fetal growth restriction, whereas elevated human chorionic gonadotropin was associated with preeclampsia.Conclusion: Elevated human chorionic gonadotropin, similar to unexplained elevated maternal serum α-fetoprotein, is significantly associated with abnormal pregnancy outcomes.