Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC)
Objectives: To test the hypothesis that pregnant women with high serum βhCG level and serum dyslipidemia in second trimester are more prone to develop subsequent Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH). Materials &
Methods: One hundred pregnant women with singleton pregnancy between 14 and 20 weeks of gestation attending antenatal outpatient department (OPD) of SMCH were studied. Serum βhCG was estimated by two-site chemiluminescent-immunometric method. Serum lipid profile was evaluated by enzymatic colorimetric test with Lipid Clearing Factor (LCF). Results: Eighteen cases developed PIH while eighty two cases remained normotensive. The serum βhCG level was significantly high (p˂0.001) in those women developing PIH. Serum concentration of total cholesterol in women who subsequently developed PIH was significantly higher than that of normotensive group (p ˂0.05).