Urinary beta-core fragment as a predictor of abnormal pregnancy at 4-6 weeks' gestation

Currently, transvaginal ultrasound and serial serum beta-hCG measurements are used to differentiate normal versus abnormal gestations in the first trimester of pregnancy. These techniques have been found to be ineffective when the gestations are earlier than 6 weeks. This study was conducted to determine if urinary beta-core fragment, the urine degradation product of beta-hCG, could be used to distinguish normal from abnormal gestations between 4 and 6 weeks. Urine samples were obtained from 27 patients on initial presentation to the emergency room or outpatient settings with gestations at 4-6 weeks by sure last menstrual period. The urine was then frozen at -40 degrees C and sent for beta-core assay analysis. Eighteen women with normal intrauterine pregnancies and nine abnormal pregnancies, including ectopics and spontaneous abortions, were studied. Pearson correlations were performed with a p < 0.05 considered significant. In the normal gestations, there was a positive correlation between beta-core fragment and gestational age at 4-6 weeks (r = 0.461, p < 0.05). This correlation was not evident in abnormal gestations (r = 0.360, p = 0.34). In early pregnancy, beta-core fragment correlates positively with gestational age which is not apparent in abnormal counterparts. This finding suggests that urinary beta-core fragment may be a promising marker to differentiate normal early pregnancies from abnormal gestations.