Levels of hCG
↑ hCG:
- Multifetal pregnancy
- Gestational Trophoblastic disease
- Down syndrome
- Under estimated gestational age
- Erythroblastosis fetalis
↓ hCG:
- Abortion
- Trisomy other than Down syndrome
- Ectopic pregnancy
Tag: hCG
Hormonal functions of placenta
→ Important hormones synthesized by placenta are:
- Progesterone
- Estrogen
- Human placental lactogen (HPL)
- Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
→Others are:
- Human chorionic thyrotropin
- Pregnancy specific β, glycoprotein
- Pregnancy associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A)
Functions of hCG
→ Maintains corpus luteum of pregnancy.
→ It simulates LH and provides the first stimulus for release of testosterone from fetal testis.
→ It has immunosuppressive action and prevents rejection of fetus.
→ It stimulates maternal thyroid gland.
→ It is used for diagnostic test like triple test for down syndrome.
Clinical Titre of hCG
→ The titer of hCG at which gestational sac should be visible on TVS in case of intrauterine pregnancy = 1500 IU/L
Case 1: If the UPT is positive and HCG titer is =1000 IU/L and on TVS gestational sac is not visible. Then it can be a case of early intrauterine pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy or abortion.
In such cases repeat the test after 24 hours.
- If after 24 hrs. values double than confirm intrauterine pregnancy,
- If reduced than abortion.
→ The titer of hCG at which gestational sac should be visible on TAS in case of intrauterine pregnancy =6000 IU/L – 6500 IU/L
Case 2: If the UPT is positive and HCGl titer is >1500IU/L and on TVS gestational sac is not visible (Normally in Intrauterine Pregnancy It Is Visible) then it is a case of ectopic pregnancy
- If value increases but does not double, it is a case of ectopic pregnancy
