Can Serum HCG Values Be Used in the Differential Diagnosis of Pregnancy Complicated by Hypertension

Objective: The aim of our study is to determine whether the serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) level is helpful in the differential diagnosis and in the clinical management and follow‐up of preeclampsia, superimposed preeclampsia, and chronic hypertension during the third trimester. Material and Methods: Eighty hypertensive pregnant patients, who had been hospitalized, and 25 normotensive pregnant patients, who attended the outpatient perinatology clinic in Zeynep Kamil Women and Pediatric Diseases Education and Research Hospital between June 2001 and September 2001 were enrolled in the study. These patients were evaluated in five groups: mild preeclamptic, severe preeclamptic, superimposed preeclamptic, chronic hypertensive, and normotensive groups. The geometric means of hCG levels of these groups were compared with each other and cutoff levels for differential diagnosis were determined. Results: The geometric mean of hCG levels was established as 17,361.31 mIU/mL in the mild preeclamptic group, 4...