Plasma pregnancy-specific beta1-glycoprotein in complications of early pregnancy

The prognostic value of a single plasma pregnancy-specific beta1-glycoprotein estimation was assessed in 64 patients admitted with a history of vaginal bleeding between 7 and 19 weeks gestation. A correct prognosis was obtained in a high percentage of cases with either continuing pregnancies or with non-viable pregnancies. In very early pregnancy with a gestation less than 10 weeks, a correct prognosis was obtained in about 75 per cent of cases but serial estimations in this group might improve the prognostic value of the test. The assay proved to be infallible where there was doubt as to whether the subject was pregnant. In the present study, single HPL estimations proved to be less useful in evaluating the outcome of complications of early pregnancy.