The prognostic value of serum human placental lactogen determinations in early pregnancy

Serial serum human placental lactogen (S-HPL) determinations were done in early pregnancy on 85 high-risk cases. Normal S-HPL values with a normal ultrasonogram had a 94.8 per cent successful outcome of pregnancy. Low S-HPL values were often accompanied by an abnormal or equivocal ultrasonogram (29.6 per cent). The fetal loss in patients with low S-HPL values and a normal ultrasonogram was 36.8 per cent.