[Serum hCG, hPL and progesterone levels in threatened abortions (author's transl)]

Serum hCG, hPL and progesterone levels in women with early pregnancies were measured with radioimmunoassay, simultaneously diagnosed whether the fetus was viable or nonviable by real-time ultrasonography. According to the ultrasonographic diagnosis, combined with subjective or objective signs of abortion, patients were divided into three groups-normal pregnancies, threatened abortions and missed abortions. There was no significant difference between serum hCG levels in women with normal pregnancies and those in women with threatened abortions. Whereas, significant difference was observed about serum progesterone and hPL levels between those two groups, at 12 approximately 13 weeks of pregnancy. Abnormally low serum hCG, hPL and progesterone levels were observed in women with missed abortions. In 8 out of 11 cases of patients with missed abortions, serum hCG or hPL levels have been rising after the fetal death had been identified. Above results suggest that impairment of translocation of production site of progesterone could be a cause of clinical manifestations in threatened abortions, and that the synthesis and secretion of two protein hormones are still taking place in trophoblasts after the fetal death occurred.