Study of Serum ?-HCG and Lipid Profile in Second Trimester as Predictors of Pre-Eclampsia in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital
Author(s): Meghana Puttaswamy, Usha Brindhini Mathialagan*, Ramesh kumar and Rathnamala M Desai
Abstract
Introduction: Early diagnosis, close antenatal surveillance, and timely intervention are key to the management of Preeclampsia. Our aim was to study the association of serum β-HCG and lipid profile in second trimester in the development of preeclampsia. Methods: 100 pregnant women between 14–20 weeks of gestational age with singleton pregnancy irrespective of parity were selected randomly and serum β-HCG and lipid profile were estimated by chemiluminescent immunometric assay and enzymatic calorimetric test respectively. Regular follow up of cases was done till delivery. Results were analysed statistically. Results: Out of 100 women who enrolled in the study 92 women were completely followed till term. Eight women were lost to follow up. Out of 92 cases that completed the study, 14 cases developed pre-eclampsia and 78 remained normotensive. Total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL values for those women who developed preeclampsia were significantly higher than those who remained normotensive with p value of <0.05 which is statistically significant. Serum β-HCG in preeclampsia group is significantly elevated with p value < 0.05. Conclusion: The present study indicates an increased risk of pre eclampsia in patients with elevated serum β hCG and altered lipid profile in their second trimester. Currently, no screening tests are predictably reliable, valid, and economical; however the above two mentioned tests appear to be good non-invasive early predictors of preeclampsia.