Context: - Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy constitute one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal mortality worldwide. It has been estimated that preeclampsia complicates 2–8% of pregnancies globally. Βeta human chorionic gonadotropin (βhCG) is secreted mainly from placenta and it is elevated in mid trimester in patients who develop PIH later on.11,12 Keeping in view the present study was planned to estimate serum βhCG during 14-20 weeks of pregnancy with the aim to investigate the role of serum βhCG level as predictors of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.

Objectives: To investigate the role of serum βhCG at 14-20 weeks of gestation as predictors for the development of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia & to access Accuracy of serum βhCG in predicting gestational hypertension and preeclampsia at different values of βhCG

Material & Methods:  A prospective cohort study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in collaboration with Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine of VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi.  The study group included 150 pregnant women attending the ANC OPD; the sample size was calculated assuming alpha to be 0.05 and power of study to be 90%.  For the analysis, the study group (n=150) was divided into 2 groups on the basis of   the subsequent development of hypertension (with and without proteinuria). Cases(n=20): Women who subsequently developed gestational hypertension or preeclampsia were included in the case group and were labelled as the hypertensive group. Controls (n=130): Women who remained normotensive till delivery were included in the control group and were labelled as normotensive group. The obstetrical examination was done at every visit to note fetal growth and wellbeing.  Besides routine antenatal investigations, βhCG profile was done between 14-20 weeks of gestation from the central hospital laboratory. All the women were monitored for the development of gestational hypertension /preeclampsia and were followed up till delivery.

Results & Conclusion: Serum βhCG at 14-20 weeks of gestation is a good predictor for the subsequent development of hypertension (PE/GH) in pregnancy. At an acceptable sensitivity of 85%, the value of βhCG obtained from ROC curve is 57,226 mIU/ml. The accuracy of this value in predicting hypertension is 96.67%.