Objective: To investigate first trimester levels of ADAM12 in trisomy 18 and 13 pregnancies and whether incorporating ADAM12 in the LifeCycle™ risk calculation program of trisomy 18 and trisomy 13 screenings can improve the detection rates of trisomies 18 and 13. Methods: ADAM12 was incorporated in the LifeCycle™ risk calculation ...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: First trimester screening is presently offered to all pregnant women as a means of prenatal screening for Down syndrome, trisomy 18, and trisomy 13. Nuchal translucency measurement is a fundamental component of the screening protocol. A woman whose fetus' nuchal translucency is greater than the 95th percentile ...

OBJECTIVE: Determine whether depression screen results are consistent across successive pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was administered in 2 successive pregnancies to 2116 women. A woman was "screen-positive" if she scored ≥12 at 24-28 weeks' or 6-weeks' postpartum. Screen-positive women were assessed by telephone and triaged by ...

Adrenal disorders may manifest during pregnancy de novo, or before pregnancy undiagnosed or diagnosed and treated. Adrenal disorders may present as hormonal hypofunction or hyperfunction, or with mass effects or other nonendocrine effects. Pregnancy presents special problems in the evaluation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in addition to the usual considerations. ...

Adrenal disorders in pregnancy are relatively rare, yet can lead to significant maternal and fetal morbidity. Making a diagnosis is challenging as pregnancy may alter the manifestation of disease, many signs and symptoms associated with pregnancy are also seen in adrenal disease, and the fetal-placental unit alters the maternal endocrine ...

In women with acromegaly due to growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenomas, the occurrence of pregnancy warrants consideration of: (1) the consequences of pregnancy on the pituitary adenoma including the tumor syndrome and GH/IGF-1 secretion, (2) the consequence of GH/IGF-1 hypersecretion on the pregnant woman and the fetus, (3) the consequences ...

Melanocortins, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and α-, β-, and γ-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) are produced in the placenta and secreted into embryos/fetuses. ACTH concentrations are higher in fetal plasma than in maternal plasma and peak at mid-gestation in rats, whereas ACTH production starts in the anterior lobe of the fetal pituitary at ...

To examine early fetal growth, pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and free β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) in relation to the risk of delivering a small-for-gestational age (SGA) infant. Included in the study were 9450 singleton pregnant women who attended the prenatal screening program at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, between January 2005 ...

Maternal adrenal cortical carcinoma in pregnancy is rare. We report a case of an infant born to a mother with a history of adrenal cortical carcinoma. The pregnancy was complicated by fetal exposure to mitotane and dexamethasone. Despite the potential teratogenic exposures, there was no evidence of adrenal dysfunction in ...

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) has been used to prevent subsequent miscarriages after previous recurrent miscarriages. In addition to the luteotrophic effects, hCG has uterine immune and autocrine actions. hCG also affects cytokine expression. A Cochrane database systematic review has indicated that hCG seems to prevent further miscarriages, (OR for miscarriage = 0.26, ...

To evaluate early fetal growth and the biomarkers, pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and free β-human chorionic gonadotrophin (β-hCG), in relation to preterm delivery. A cohort study of 9450 singleton pregnant women who attended the prenatal screening program at Aarhus University Hospital between January 2005 and December 2007, was conducted. ...

To evaluate the performance of a one-step test detecting intact hCG and free β-hCG isoforms in the urine of pregnant women to diagnose an abnormal pregnancy. Prospective study. Emergency gynecology departments in teaching hospitals. Five hundred twenty-six patients were enrolled, 272 who were not pregnant and 254 who were pregnant. ...

To determine the clinical relevance of maternal characteristics and first-trimester serum concentrations of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and free beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (fβ-hCG) in predicting placenta-related complications, miscarriage and preterm delivery. DESIGN, SETTING AND POPULATION: A historical cohort study of data of the National Institute for Public Health ...

To determine the prognostic value of beta human chorionic gonadotropin (B-hCG) concentration on the sixteenth day after embryo transfer to predict pregnancy outcome. In this retrospective cohort study, B-hCG levels were measured in 97 pregnant women that underwent intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in Fatemeh-Zahra Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, ...

OBJECTIVE: To estimate predictive factors for failure of laparoscopic conservative treatment of ectopic pregnancy using a standardized surgical technique. METHODS: We performed a population-based study from the Auvergne ectopic pregnancy registry. A total of 3,196 cases of ectopic pregnancy were registered between 1992 and 2008. Among conservative treatments (n=1,965), 1,306 ...

Objective: To determine if combinations of maternal characteristics and measurements of parameters used in screening for aneuploidies at 11-13 weeks provide significant prediction of macrosomia. Method: Maternal characteristics, fetal nuchal translucency (NT), free β-human chorionic gonadotrophin (β-hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) were recorded at 11(+0)-13(+6) weeks in 36,743 singleton ...

Firstly, to establish a reference range of birth weight with gestation at delivery; secondly, to identify maternal characteristics that are significantly associated with birth weight; and thirdly, to determine if combinations of maternal characteristics, fetal nuchal translucency thickness (NT), and serum concentrations of free beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (β-hCG) and pregnancy-associated ...

CONTEXT: Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is the major pregnancy glycoprotein hormone whose maternal concentration and glycan structure change all along pregnancy. hCG is mainly secreted by the syncytiotrophoblast covering the chorionic villi, but little is known about the source of hyperglycosylated hCG (hCG-H) production. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study ...

Hyperglycosylated hCG (hCG-H) is a glycoprotein with the same polypeptide structure as hCG, and much larger N- and O-linked oligosaccharides. The oligosaccharides increase the molecular weight of hCG from 36,000 - 37,000 u to 40,000 - 41,000 u, depending on the extent of hyperglycosylation. hCG-H has triantennary N-linked oligosaccharides and ...

To compare β-hCG levels measured as the first pregnancy test in women who conceived after in vitro maturation (IVM) or IVF. Retrospective matched cohort analysis. University-based medical center. Women treated with IVM or IVF. We studied the first serum β-hCG levels in 104 pregnant women who were successfully treated with ...

Data on the management of male infertility secondary to hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (HH) are limited. We report our extensive experience with intramuscular injections of gonadotropins, one of the two methods used for this purpose. Eighty-seven married men (median age, 28 years) with either congenital (47 men) or acquired (40 men) HH ...

To find the best predictor of the viability of intrauterine pregnancies of uncertain viability (IPUVs). An IPUV is defined as an empty intrauterine gestational sac measuring less than 20 mm in diameter or an intrauterine gestational sac containing a fetal pole with a crown-rump length (CRL) of less than 6 ...

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) levels between days 0 and 4 as a predictor of methotrexate therapy success for ectopic pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective study that evaluated posttreatment beta-hCG levels of 30 patients with ectopic pregnancy who had been ...

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of, and predictive ability of, pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A), free beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-hCG), and nuchal translucency (NT) with preterm birth (PTB). METHODS: A 5-year retrospective cohort study of women who underwent first-trimester combined screening was performed. Maternal medical, antepartum, and pregnancy outcome data ...

BACKGROUND: The second-trimester maternal serum screening in twin pregnancy is still controversial, as the serum marker levels in twins are not as clear as those in singletons. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the levels of the second-trimester maternal serum free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (free beta-HCG) and alpha-fetoprotein ...

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of a vanishing twin on the levels of the biochemical markers used in the first trimester aneuploidy screening. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of free beta-hCG and PAPP-A levels in 270 women with a normal singleton fetus with ultrasound evidence of a vanishing twin pregnancy. Marker ...

Urine pregnancy tests are widely used in emergency departments as the first screening test for patients of reproductive age presenting with gynaecological problems in order to rule out pregnancy. Conditions such as complete molar pregnancy, which produces large amounts of beta human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG), may cause a false negative ...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between adverse pregnancy outcomes and unexplained elevations of second trimester maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), alpha fetoprotein (AFP) levels and uterine artery Doppler measurements. METHODS: A total of 144 women between 16-20 weeks of gestation that applied to our clinic for triple test were ...

Spontaneous ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is an extremely rare event. Normally OHSS is seen in the context of IVF. In 2003 a mutation of the FSH receptor (FSHR D567N) was identified for the first time as a cause of spontaneous OHSS. In most FSHR mutations, a hypersensitivity to human chorionic ...

A 30-year-old woman presented with epigastric pain with elevated serum human chorionic gonadotropin level (hCG), absence of intrauterine gestational sac and absence of an abnormal adnexal mass on pelvic ultrasonography. Laparoscopy revealed a ruptured hepatic ectopic pregnancy. This was removed by laparoscopic suctioning and haemostasis secured with Surgicel((R)) Fribrilla Absorbable ...

To create reference centile chart of fetal nuchal translucency maternal serum pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and maternal serum free beta human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) in order to predict preliminarily Down syndrome in Thai fetuses during 10-14 weeks of gestation. This was a prospective, descriptive cohort study. From 1 January ...

To investigate the predictive power of progesterone combined with beta human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG) measurements in the outcome of threatened miscarriage. This retrospective study was conducted on 245 intrauterine pregnant women from January 2006 to October 2008. 175 women with threatened miscarriages who consulted for vaginal bleeding received exogenous progesterone ...

Serum human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) concentration is nearly always used to predict pregnancy but there is little data on the clinical utility of the ratio of HCG(21)/HCG(14) combined with double measurement of serum HCG. A total of 1762 cycles were retrospectively analysed for serum HCG concentration and ratio of HCG(21)/HCG(14) ...

BACKGROUND: Miscarriage is a common occurrence in early pregnancy. Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) is secreted by the syncytiotrophoblast. It promotes the corpus luteum to secrete progesterone and helps in maintaining the pregnancy. Hence, there has been much interest in the use of hCG to treat threatened miscarriage. OBJECTIVES: To assess ...

To determine if the change in serum estradiol (E2) from the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection to the day after predicts pregnancy and implantation rates following in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in less than average responders. A retrospective cohort analysis was performed in women with less than average ...

The study group consisted of 100 women with a singleton pregnancy with pre-term labour between 26-36 weeks' gestation. Cervicovaginal secretions were collected for HCG assay and cervical length was measured by transvaginal sonography (TVS). These parameters were analysed to predict pre-term birth. The pre-term delivery rate was 55%; 24% delivered ...

BACKGROUND: We wished to investigate the correlation between a new Down screening marker ADAM12 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase-12) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (fbeta-hCG) during the first trimester of pregnancy. METHODS: ADAM12, PAPP-A and fbeta-hCG were measured in 225 serum samples of randomly chosen pregnancies ...

The variability of maternal serum biochemical markers for Down syndrome, free beta-hCG and PAPP-A can have a different impact on false-positive rates between the 10+0 and 13+6 week of gestation. The study population comprised 2883 unaffected, singleton, spontaneously conceived pregnancies in Croatian women, who delivered apparently healthy child at term. ...

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the sensitivity and specificity of alternative monitoring regimens in predicting the need for a second methotrexate (MTX) dose in women undergoing medical therapy for ectopic pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: We reviewed 187 women who received MTX for ectopic pregnancy. RESULTS: We defined MTX treatment success as ...

Early pregnancy bleeding is a common presentation in the emergency setting. Traditionally, its assessment relied on clinical findings, including pelvic examination. However in recent years, ultrasonography and quantitative beta human chorionic gonadotropin assays have gained prominence and are now first-line in diagnosing early pregnancy bleeding. Accordingly, the role of pelvic ...

Human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) may substitute FSH to complete follicular growth in IVF cycles. This may be useful in the prevention of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Relevant studies were identified on Medline. To evaluate outcomes, a meta-analysis of low-dose HCG-supplemented IVF cycles versus non-supplemented ones was performed with data from 435 ...

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is not a single biological molecule. There is the regular form of hCG produced by differentiated syncytotrophoblast cells (regular hCG). This hormone primarily functions to maintain the myometrial and decidual spiral arteries, or the vascular supply of the placenta during the full course of pregnancy. Hyperglycosylated ...

OBJECTIVE: The object of this study is to examine the influence of maternal opiate use on the levels of second trimester biochemical markers for Down syndrome. Maternal opiate use is known to be associated with problems of placental origin and it is possible that the secretion of alpha-feto protein (AFP), ...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between first-trimester serum analytes, pregnancy-associated plasma protein A and free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin, and fetal growth disorders, and to determine whether a prediction model for these growth disorders can be developed. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of patients seen for first-trimester aneuploidy screening. Pregnancy-associated plasma ...

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the association between estradiol (E(2)) levels on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) administration and pregnancy rates in a recombinant FSH (rec-FSH) antagonist fixed protocol. METHODS: A group of 207 patients (<or=39 years of age), treated by IVF/ICSI, ...

The current study was undertaken to investigate the use of beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-HCG) concentration and other significant factors to predict the likelihood of an IVF pregnancy progressing to detection of cardiac activity by ultrasound, and to create data tables which can be used for patient counselling. A retrospective ...

BACKGROUND: Qualitative point-of-care (POC) tests for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) vary in their ability to detect purified hCG variants and there is data to suggest that over-the-counter (OTC) devices might also display similar variability. This could potentially influence the detection of urine hCG in early pregnancy. METHODS: Six OTC devices ...

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of hyperreactio luteinalis (HL) with elevated levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and a severe imbalance of angiogenic factors, which developed into severe, early onset preeclampsia (PE). DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: University perinatal center. PATIENT(S): A 32-year-old primigravida woman with HL, high hCG levels, and ...

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of subtle progesterone (P4) rise on the day of HCG on pregnancy outcome in ICSI patients stimulated with long agonist protocol. METHODS: One hundred forty-nine consecutive controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycles for ICSI using long luteal agonist protocol. RESULTS: Mean serum progesterone on day of hCG ...

Regulatory T cells (Treg) expand during pregnancy and are present at the fetal-maternal interface at very early stages in pregnancy. The migration mechanisms of Treg to the pregnant uterus are still unclear. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is secreted by the blastocyst immediately after fertilization and has chemoattractant properties. Therefore, we ...