An Analytical Case-Control Assessment of the Association between Elevated Maternal Serum β-hCG Levels and HDP

AbstractAim: The objective of the present study was to determine the association between elevatedmaternal serum β-hCG levels and HDP.Methods: This was a hospital based observational study conducted in the Department ofObstetrics and Gynecology, BMIMS, Pawapuri, Nalanda, Bihar, India over a period of 18months after taking approval from the ethical committee. This study included 300 pregnantwomen, grouped into cases of 200 pregnant women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancyand control of 100 normotensive women. Serum β-hCG levels were measured and comparedin both groups.Results: Out of the 200 hypertensive women in the study group, there were 40 (20%) patientswith gestational hypertension, 44 (22%) with non-severe preeclampsia, 80 (40%) with severepreeclampsia and 36 (18%) with antepartum eclampsia. The mean age of normotensivemothers in control group was 24.88 years and that of hypertensive mothers in the study groupwas 24.48 years. The difference in parity of mothers was statistically significant (p<0.05)with a greater number of primigravida in the study (hypertensive) group as compared tocontrol (normotensive) women. The mean of SBP mothers with HDP was 150.70±18.72mmHg and that of normotensive mothers was 110.40±10.15 mmHg which was statisticallysignificant (p<0.001). The difference in gestational age between the two groups wasstatistically significant (p<0.05). Mean gestational age was 37.3±2.7 weeks in thenormotensive group and 35.5±3.3 weeks in the hypertensive group.Conclusion: As HDP cause significant maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity, earlydiagnosis may improve maternal and perinatal outcome by ensuring appropriate management.Serum β-hCG level was higher in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy when compared tonormotensive women. The levels are also higher in severe preeclampsia patients whencompared with non- severe preeclampsia; and in primigravid hypertensive women incomparison to multigravida hypertensive women