[Clinical significance of HCG in both maternal serum and placental tissue in normal term women and patients with pregnancy induced hypertension].

OBJECTIVE

To determine the maternal serum level of HCG beta and the hormones in normal term women and patients with pregnancy induced hypertension.

METHOD

Semiquantitative immunohistochemistry of placental tissue was used in 193 normal term women and patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH).

RESULTS

A strongly positive correlation between the maternal serum level of HCG and the immunostained positive syncytiotrophoblasts (ST) was found (correlated coefficient: 0.65, P < 0.01). Maternal serum HCG was produced mainly from placental ST. Serum HCG beta and HCG positive cells of the placenta were obviously higher in patients with PIH than those in normal term women (P < 0.01). An increase of HCG level was noted in maternal serum and the placental tissue with PIH.

CONCLUSION

Abnormal higher HCG level may affect the pathogenesis of PIH.