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Original Article
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Korean J Obstet Gynecol. 1997;40(9):1858-1862. Published online January 1, 2001.
- The Association Between Unexplained Second-Trimester Maternal Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein or Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Elevations and Perinatal Complications.
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Ja Young Jeong, Jae Seong Park, Sung Su Kang, Kyeong Min Jeong, An Teak Kim, Yong Ho Moon, Ki Sung Chung
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Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Masan Samsung General Hospital, Korea.
- Abstract
- Our purpose was to study the correlation between elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein(MSAFP) or human chorionic gonadotropin(HCG) levels and pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), preeclampsia, preterm delivery. MSAFP and HCG levels were measured in stored second-trimester(14~22 weeks) serum obtained from 510 women. The criteria for patients with unexplained MSAFP elevations were a MSAFP level 2.5 or greater multiples of the median(MoM) and HCG elevations were a HCG level 2.0 or greater multiples of the median(MoM) excluding multiple pregnancy, fetal malformation or death on ultra-sonography and molar pregnancy. In contrast, patients with MSAFP levels 0.5 to < 2.5 MoM, HCG levels < 2.0 MoM were served as controls. Women with elevated HCG levels had more significant association with PIH than control group(22.2 % versus 3.4 % ; p < .005). Elevated MSAFP was significantly associated with preeclampsia(7.7 % versus 1.1 % ; p < .05). But no significant differences were observed in the incidence of preterm delivery. We suggested elevated second-trimester MSAFP or HCG levels appear to be correlated with high risk for PIH and preeclampsia. So, These patients require careful monitoring with adequate obstetric managements.
Keywords :Unexplained elevation;Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein;Human chorionic gonadotropin;Pregnancy induced hypertension;preeclampsia
