Elevated serum Beta-hCG levels in severe preeclampsia

Most current hypotheses regarding the pathophysiologic mechanisms of pregnancy-induced hypertention point to early placental abnormalities. Therefore, we attempted to determine whether serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels reflect a different trophoblastic secretory response of preeclampsia. Thirteen pregnant women with severe preeclampsia were matched with twenty-one normotensive pregnant women with singleton pregnancies in the third trimester. Serum $\beta$-hCG levels were found to be significantly higher in severe preeclampsia, compared with controls (p<0.05). This indicates that an abnormal secretory function of the placenta exists in patients with severe preeclampsia.