Beta‐human chorionic gonadotrophin levels before and after the development of pre‐eclampsia

Summary. Maternal serum levels of beta‐human chorionic gonadotrophin ((β‐hCG) concentrations were significantly higher in 41 primigravid patients with proteinuric pre‐eclampsia compared with those in 41 primigravid normotensive women matched for age and gestation. β‐hCG was also measured in serial serum samples obtained from 13 women who had a high weight‐gain between 20 and 30 weeks of pregnancy. Seven of these pregnancies were subsequently complicated with pre‐eclampsia while the remaining six continued to be normotensive; β‐hCG levels were found to rise before the clinical signs of pre‐eclampsia appeared. Copyright © 1984, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved