Assessment of the Usefulness of Maternal Serum Beta-Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin as Predictive Marker for Pre-Eclampsia and Poor Clinical Neonatal Outcome in Sokoto, NorthWest Nigeria

Abstract

Preeclampsia and its related maternal and neonatal complications remain a significant global public health threat and economic concern, especially in developing countries. It contributes to the high maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in Sokoto. Some of the analytes evaluated had low predictive power for preeclampsia and poor neonatal outcomes in Sokoto. The present study assessed the application of maternal serum beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (βhCG) levels as a predictive marker for preeclampsia and poor neonatal outcomes in Sokoto. This was a prospective case-control study conducted in some selected centres in the Sokoto metropolis. Two hundred participants (one hundred cases and one hundred controls) were recruited for this study. The data obtained were analysed using SPSS 25 version statistical software. The association between the variables was assessed using Pearson's linear correlation and unpaired student t test analysis, and predictive value for developing preeclampsia, and poor clinical neonatal outcome was determined using Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis. The results showed that maternal serum levels of βhCG of preeclamptic women were significantly higher compared to the controls (5189.91±7.35, 3943.71±53.21 mIU, p=0.000). There were significant negative correlations between βhCG, with birth weight (r=-0.371, p=0.000), and Apgar score (r= -0.385, p=0.000). The predictive power of βhCG for developing pre-eclampsia and poor neonatal outcomes was excellent and good, respectively. In conclusion, maternal serum βhCG levels at second trimesters and above may be useful in predicting preeclampsia and poor clinical neonatal outcomes.