Objective: To determine the reference values of beta hCG and PAPP-A among women aged 20– 40 years at 9-10 weeks of normal gestation.
Methodology: This descriptive observational study was conducted at Pathology Department of PGMI/Lahore General Hospital, Lahore from May, 2018 to June, 2020 and included 500 women at 9-10 weeks of gestation. Those with molar pregnancy, multiple pregnancies, threatened abortion, abnormal obstetric ultrasound findings, history of chronic diseases and smoking were excluded. Quantitative analysis of PAPP-A and β-hCG was performed on Backman Coulter Access 2 Immunoassay. Data was entered in SPSS version 21. Median and IQR were calculated for β-hCG and PAPP-A for total samples and in various subgroups of this population. Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test were applied to find association between levels of β-HCG and PAPP-A with parity and age respectively.
Results: Out of 500 women, 214 (43%) were primigravida and 286 (57%) multigravidas. Mean age was 27.3±7.5 years. The median (IQR) values for β-hCG and PAPP-A were 53449.5(33322.5) mIU/ml and 425.10 (262.60) ng/ml, respectively. There was no significant association between levels of β-hCG and PAPP-A and parity. However, significant association was found between value of β-hCG and maternal age.
Conclusion: The median values of β-hCG and PAPP-A at 9-10 weeks of normal gestation were 53449.5 mIU/ml and 425.10 ng/ml, respectively. Significant association was found between value of β-hCG and maternal age.
Key words: PAPP-A, β-hCG, pregnancy, parity, reference.
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