Early Second Trimester Of Pregnancy Research Articles

Raised neutrophil lymphocyte ratio and serum beta hCG level in early second trimester of pregnancy as predictors for development and severity of preeclampsia.

Early detection and prediction of preeclampsia (PE) may avert serious materno-fetal complications. This prospective nested study was conducted to evaluate the role of serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in predicting the development and severity of PE. Four hundred and forty primigravidas, between 16 to 18 weeks of gestation, were recruited in the study. Serum beta-hCG and NLR were measured at the time of recruitment and they were followed and monitored for the development of PE and severe PE. Out of these 440 women, 64 (14%) developed PE; of which 25 (39%) developed severe PE. The mean values of NLR and serum beta hCG were significantly higher in patients developing PE and severe PE. NLR, with a cutoff value of 5.6, predicted the development of PE with 73.4% sensitivity and 88.6% specificity and severe PE with sensitivity 93.3% and specificity 86.6% respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of serum beta hCG in predicting the development of PE was 75% each for a cutoff value of 25,415 IU/mL whereas these values were 86.7%, and 79.1% respectively, for a cut-off value of 29,654 IU/mL for predicting the development of severe PE. These findings suggest that NLR and serum beta hCG can be used as excellent biomarkers in predicting both the development of PE and its severity. Multicentric studies involving subjects of multiple ethnicities should be done for establishing its utility as a routine screening test.

Association of sedentary time and physical activity during pregnancy with maternal and neonatal birth outcomes. The GESTAFIT Project.

(a) To analyse the association of objectively measured sedentary time (ST) and physical activity (PA) during early second trimester of pregnancy with maternal and neonatal birth outcomes; (b) to explore if ST and PA differ between women with vaginal or caesarean section deliveries. Ninety-four Caucasian pregnant women (32.9±4.6years old) participated in this prospective longitudinal study. Triaxial accelerometers were used to assess ST and PA intensity levels for seven consecutive days during second trimester of pregnancy. Birth data were collected from the obstetric medical records. Umbilical cord arterial and venous blood gas (pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide and oxygen, and oxygen saturation) were analysed after birth. After adjusting for potential confounders, greater ST was associated with higher arterial and venous cord blood partial pressure of carbon dioxide and more acidic arterial and venous pH (all, P<0.01). Moderate PA, moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), total PA and steps per day were positively associated with arterial cord blood oxygen saturation (all P<0.05). Steps per day were inversely associated with gestational age at birth (P<0.01), and duration of first stage of labor (P<0.05). Total and light PA were associated with a more alkaline pH in umbilical vein (all, P<0.01). Vigorous PA was inversely associated with the Apgar score (P<0.01). No significant differences were observed in ST and PA levels between women with vaginal and women with caesarean section deliveries (all, P>0.10). Increasing PA and decreasing ST during pregnancy might promote better maternal and neonatal birth markers.

P18.05: F‐TAPSE for fetal cardiac function evaluation in the early second trimester of pregnancy in normal and pathological cases

P18.05: F‐TAPSE for fetal cardiac function evaluation in the early second trimester of pregnancy in normal and pathological cases

Reducing Psychological Stress in Peripartum Women With Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback: A Systematic Review.

Peripartum women are exposed to a variety of stressors that have adverse health consequences for the maternal-child dyad (e.g., impaired bonding). To combat these adverse health consequences, heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVBF) may be implemented by holistic nurses to aid peripartum women experiencing a high level of stress. A systematic review was completed using the guidelines established in the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement. To be included in the review, studies had to meet the following criteria: (a) published scientific articles, (b) studies published in English, (c) experimental, quasi-experimental, or case reports, (d) use of HRVBF as the main treatment, (e) use of psychological stress as a dependent variable, and (f) studies published until December 2017. The major findings of this review can be described as follows: (a) HRVBF and psychological stress in peripartum women are related concepts, (b) peripartum women who completed HRVBF report a reduction in stress compared with participants who did not receive HRVBF, and (c) there is currently no information on the effectiveness of HRVBF on psychological stress in the first and early second trimester of pregnancy. Overall, this systematic review of the literature provides objective evidence that HRVBF may be a potential beneficial adjuvant treatment for stress management in peripartum women.

Second trimester maternal serum–amniotic fluid nitric oxide and vascular endothelial growth factor levels in relation to uterine artery Doppler indices in pregnancies with normal outcome

The aim of the present study was to explore the possible relations of maternal serum and amniotic fluid nitric oxide (NO) and of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) concentrations with uterine artery Doppler indices (UtADs) in a healthy second trimester obstetric population. In this regard, the levels of NO and VEGF-A were measured in maternal sera and the amniotic fluid samples were in 36 subjects who were in their early second trimester of pregnancy. The mean levels for VEGF-A were 110.3 ± 31.5 pg/ml in maternal serum and 149.6 ± 31.3 pg/ml in amniotic fluid. Mean levels for NO were 5.7 ± 4.7 µmol in maternal serum and 12.9 ± 3.4 µmol in amniotic fluid. UtADs were measured concurrently with the sample collections. The mean value for uterine artery pulsatility index (PI) was 1.3 ± 0.4. The measurements were then analysed for possible correlations, whereby no correlation was found between UtAD and maternal serum levels of either molecule (p = .828 and p = .662 for VEGF-A and NO, respectively). However, a positive correlation was found between the NO levels in the amniotic fluid compartment and UtAD (r = 0.432, p = .009 for PI). Therefore, a correlation of UtAD with amniotic fluid NO can be expected in pregnancies with a normal outcome.Impact StatementWhat is already known on this subject? Nitric oxide (NO) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) are important vasoactive molecules that play significant roles in early angiogenesis and placentation.What the results of this study add? There is a positive correlation between the amniotic fluid NO levels and the uterine artery Doppler indices (UtADs) in the second trimester of pregnancies with normal outcomes.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or future research? A correlation between amniotic fluid NO levels and UtAD may indicate a normal trophoblastic invasion. Disturbance of this balance may be expected in certain adverse pregnancy outcomes. Additional studies are needed to further explore the molecular signs of early abnormal placentation and their clinical reflection.

Risk of gestational diabetes mellitus in relation to plasma concentrations of amino acids and acylcarnitines: A nested case-control study

AimsGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects between 5 and 10% of all pregnancies in Canada and can lead to adverse health outcomes in both the mother and fetus. Amino acids (AA) and acylcarnitines (AC) have been identified as early biomarkers of type 2 diabetes but their usefulness in screening for GDM has yet to be demonstrated. MethodsWe conducted a nested case-control study involving 50 controls and 50 GDM cases diagnosed between the 24th and 28th week of gestation. Heparinized plasma samples were obtained during the first and early second trimester of pregnancy. Case and controls were matched according to date of recruitment, maternal age, gestational age at blood sampling as well as pre-pregnancy body mass index. Eight AA and eight AC were quantified using an ultra-high pressure liquid-chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry platform. Conditional regression analyses adjusted for matching factors and smoking habits during pregnancy were performed to identify plasma metabolites associated with GDM risk. ResultsOdds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the prediction of GDM per one standard deviation increase of AA or AC in plasma levels were 0.25 (0.08–0.79) for butyrylcarnitine, 0.31 (0.12–0.79) for glutamic acid, 2.5 (1.2–5.3) for acetylcarnitine, 2.9 (1.3–6.8) for isobutyrylcarnitine and 5.3 (1.7–17.0) for leucine. These five metabolites were selected by stepwise conditional logistic regression to create a predictive model with an OR of 2.7 (1.5–4.9). ConclusionWhether the identified metabolites can predict the risk of developing GDM requires additional studies in a larger sample of pregnant women.

Sonographic Development of the Pericallosal Vascularization in the First and Early Second Trimester of Pregnancy.

Anomalies of the corpus callosum are rare. Routine scanning in midtrimester of the pregnancy often fails to identify defective development. The purpose of the study was to identify the pericallosal artery and all its main branching arteries during early gestation from the first trimester onward, to measure the length of the pericallosal artery during its development, and to establish a normal vascular map for each week of development. We performed a single-center prospective, longitudinal clinical study in 15 patients between 11 and 22 weeks of gestation. The origin and course of the different blood vessels were identified. There was a linear association among gestational age, the biparietal diameter, and the length of the pericallosal artery. The curvature of the developing pericallosal artery increases linearly with the gestational age and biparietal diameter, and 4 variations of branching of the callosomarginal artery were observed. The pericallosal artery and its branches can be identified and measured from 11 weeks on, and the pericallosal artery takes its characteristic course. A defective course or an abnormal biometry of the pericallosal artery could be an early sonographic marker of abnormal development of the corpus callosum.

Unruptured tubal pregnancy in early second trimester

Introduction. Most ectopic pregnancies are tubal pregnancies. They are potentially life-threatening conditions with a high mortality rate if unrecognized. The diagnosis is established when the first warning symptoms occur, or during the first prenatal visits to a gynecologist. The diagnosis in the second trimester is extremely rare, since clinical presentation resulting either from the expulsion of the fetus into the peritoneal cavity or from the tubal rupture is manifested by that time. If there is no rupture or the expulsion of the fetus, the pregnancy is allowed to continue and ectopic pregnancy diagnosis may be established in the second trimester. Case outline. We present a case of a 31-year-old second gravida with a vital intrauterine pregnancy confirmed at the first examination. In the early second trimester, the patient visited her doctor due to vaginal bleeding. After a gynecological examination and ultrasonography, ectopic pregnancy was suspected, so the patient underwent laparotomy. Ectopic pregnancy was confirmed and adnexectomy was performed. Conclusion. Early ultrasound examinations have to confirm whether eutopic pregnancy is present. A misdiagnosis and monitoring of ectopic pregnancy as eutopic one is potentially life-threatening for a pregnant woman.

Prediction of Pregnancy-induced Hypertension by Maternal Serum Beta Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Levels in Early Second Trimester of Pregnancy

Prediction of Pregnancy-induced Hypertension by Maternal Serum Beta Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Levels in Early Second Trimester of Pregnancy

Depressive Symptom Prevalence and Predictors in the First Half of Pregnancy.

Major depression during the peripartum (MDP) period carries significant public health impact due to the potential adverse effects on maternal, infant, and family outcomes. As part of a larger longitudinal study, this cross-sectional observational study sought to build upon the current literature on the prevalence and predictors of depression in the early second trimester of pregnancy, as related to generally accepted risk factors and other less explored risk factors. The findings from this study suggest that in this sample of 230 black and white women at ∼14 weeks gestation, ∼19% endorsed depressive symptoms and that the most important predictors of depression in pregnancy were a preconception history of a mental health issue (e.g., lifetime depressive episode) and perceived stress. Other relevant predictors were pregnancy-related anxiety, income, and stressful life events. It is important for clinicians not only to screen for MDP during prenatal visits by asking about current depressive, stress, and anxiety symptoms but also to identify patients at risk for MDP by asking simple questions about history of preconception/lifetime episodes of depression and stressful life events. Given the variance accounted for by lifetime depression, additional research into how clinicians may approach this important topic is warranted. For example, checklists given in the waiting room may be less likely to elicit endorsement compared with conversations aimed to normalize the range of depressive histories that may have relevance to obstetric health.

Human amniotic fluid stem cells have better potential in early second trimester of pregnancy and can be reprogramed to iPS

ObjectiveTo study the difference of amniotic fluid stem cell potential at different gestational age. Materials and methodsSecond trimester amniocentesis was performed during 15 to 22nd week of gestational age in a single medical center from 2015 to 2016. Early second trimester amniotic fluid stem cells (E-AFS) and later one (L-AFS) were defined 15–18th week, and 19–22nd week, respectively. Cell characteristics, surface markers and ability to form induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) were studied. ResultsAll the amniotic fluid stem cells samples could be isolated and cultured from second trimester amniocentesis. E-AFS showed more Ckit + cell, shorted doubling time, smaller cell size and higher cell density compared to L-AFS. Both groups had the same stem cell surface markers with highly expression of CD44, CD73, CD90, and CD105, negative for CD45. They can easily be reprogramed into amniotic fluid stem cell derived iPS via standard induction. ConclusionHuman amniotic fluid stem cells could be isolated from early or late second trimester amniocentesis with the similar stem cell surface markers presentation, especially in mesenchymal stem cells markers. However, the cells from early second trimester amniocentesis have more Ckit + number and more potential characteristics compared to late second trimester amniocentesis. Both E-AFS and L-AFS could form the iPS easily which lead to the future disease modeling study.

Time Interval Measurements of the Ductus Venosus During the Early Second Trimester of Pregnancy: Reference Ranges and Clinical Application.

The aims of this study were to construct reference ranges for the time interval parameters of the ductus venosus during the early second trimester of pregnancy and to demonstrate the clinical utility in various fetal disorders. The ductus venosus Doppler measurements of 331 healthy fetuses between 15 and 22 weeks' gestation were analyzed. The systolic time and diastolic time were subdivided into the systolic acceleration time, systolic deceleration time, diastolic acceleration time, and diastolic deceleration time. The median, 5th, and 95th regression lines for each variable were determined according to gestational age. The ductus venosus time interval parameters in cases of fetoplacental abnormalities were calculated and plotted against the reference ranges. With advancing gestation, the systolic acceleration time and total systolic time increased significantly (P < .001). In contrast to the systolic phase, the diastolic deceleration time decreased significantly during the early second trimester of pregnancy (P = .023). The systolic deceleration time, diastolic acceleration time, and diastolic time were relatively constant. Fetuses with tricuspid insufficiency, twin-twin transfusion syndrome, intrauterine fetal growth restriction, and anemia had abnormal ductus venosus times with different patterns. Predicted normal reference ranges for time interval variables in relation to gestational age were established. These could be helpful for assessing fetal cardiovascular function during the early second trimester of pregnancy.

Severe hydronephrosis secondary to uterine artery pseudoaneurysm in the early second trimester of pregnancy: A case report

BackgroundUterine artery pseudoaneurysm (UAP) normally presents genital bleeding in the puerperal period, and severe hydronephrosis rarely presents during pregnancy. We report a rare case of severe ureteral obstruction accompanied by uterine artery pseudoaneurysm in the early second trimester of pregnancy, which was successfully treated by surgical intervention.Case presentationA 42-year-old nulligravid woman who had undergone myomectomy 3 years earlier was referred to our hospital for acute left abdominal pain at the 17th week of gestation. Ultrasonography showed severe left hydronephrosis and a 6-cm mass in the parauterine space. Color Doppler ultrasonography revealed a spinning turbulent flow pattern inside the mass lesion. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed the left uterine artery feeding blood flow to the mass and left ureteral obstruction by the mass. These results indicated left hydronephrosis secondary to left uterine artery pseudoaneurysm. To resolve the problem, laparotomy was performed. As uterine artery isolation was impossible, ligation of the left internal iliac artery and releasing of the ureteral obstruction were carried out. The hydronephrosis and abdominal pain promptly resolved after the surgery. Thereafter, fetal development proceeded normally in the remaining months of the pregnancy. A healthy baby was delivered through cesarean section at 36 weeks gestational age. At the cesarean section, the left lower uterine segment where the UAP had been present was not visible because of the firm adhesion in around it.ConclusionsUterine artery pseudoaneurysm can cause hydronephrosis in the early second trimester of pregnancy. Ligation of the unilateral internal iliac artery is a safe and effective intervention to block the blood flow to the uterine artery pseudoaneurysm during pregnancy, when uterine artery ligation seems not possible. In the pregnancy after previous surgical procedures to the uterus, uterine artery pseudoaneurysm should be considered in the differential diagnosis of symptomatic hydronephrosis.

Hydration status of pregnant women in West Jakarta.

During pregnancy, the body exhibits dynamic changes in fluid composition. More than 50%of women experience nausea and vomiting during the first trimester. Studies of hydration status in pregnant women are limited, and not in tropical countries, like in Indonesia. The objective of this study was to investigate the hydration status and appropriate biomarkers for determination of hydration status in pregnant women in West Jakarta. This study was cross-sectional. A total of 35 pregnant women aged (19-35 years) at the early second trimester of pregnancy was recruited. Urine osmolality, urine specific gravity, and serum osmolality were used to determine hydration status. Subjects then were divided into a hydration group (HG) and a dehydration group (DG). We used independent t tests, chi-square and Spearman rank correlation coefficient to analyse the data. The population was comparably divided between dehydration and hydration groups (57.1% and 42.9%, respectively). The proportions by age, parity, gestational age, height, weight, upper arm circumference, waist circumference, pelvic circumference, body temperature, blood pressure, and fundal height did not differ between groups (p>=0.05). There was a relationship between urine colour and hydration status (p<0.05). Differences in hydration biomarker status (urine osmolality and urine specific gravity) were noted between the groups (p<0.05). Dehydration may be common during pregnancy in tropical Indonesia and can be confirmed by the hydration biomarkers of urinary specific gravity and osmolality. Fluid balance is necessary to prevent health problems and intrauterine growth restriction in pregnant women.

Delta Healthy Sprouts: Participants' Diet and Food Environment at Baseline

Local food environments influence the nutrition and health of area residents. This baseline analysis focuses on the food environments of women who participated in the Delta Healthy Sprouts project, a randomized, controlled, comparative trial designed to test the efficacy of two Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting programs on weight status and health behaviors of mothers and their infants residing in the rural Mississippi Delta. Participants resided in Washington, Bolivar, or Humphreys County and were visited in their homes thus precise geographical location data was available.At baseline, participants were in the early second trimester of pregnancy. The majority were African American (96.3%), single (92.7%), received Medicaid (91.5%), enrolled in SNAP (75.6%), enrolled in WIC (84.1%), and owned or had access to a car (90.2%). Two‐thirds of the participants were classified as overweight or obese based on self‐reported pre‐pregnancy body weight and measured height.Over an 18 month period, dietary data was gathered from participants using multiple pass 24‐hour dietary recalls via the Nutrition Data System for Research software. Diet quality was calculated from this data using Healthy Eating Index‐2010 which measures adherence to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The Healthy Eating Index‐2010 total score ranges from 0 to 100 points. At baseline, the participants' mean Healthy Eating Index score was 43.1 with a range of 21.5 to 72.0.Participants also completed surveys asking about food practices, including the name and address of the store where most of the household food was purchased. All grocery and convenience stores in the towns where more than two participants lived were enumerated and evaluated for availability of healthy options, price, and quality using the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey for grocery stores (NEMS‐S) and convenience stores (NEMS‐CS). The 12 measured grocery stores had a mean score of 30.6 with a range of 23 to 41 (57 possible points). The 84 measured convenience stores had a mean score of 8.1 with a range from 2 to 14 (58 possible points).Focusing on the store where most of the household food was purchased, all but two participants reported grocery shopping at a store in their county. In Washington County, all residents of the largest town (n=42) reported shopping in town. For the two smaller towns in Washington County, about half (46.1%) reported commuting to the largest neighboring town for food shopping. In Bolivar County, all but one resident (n=16) reported shopping in in the largest town, regardless of town residency.Results suggest that grocery stores rated adequately for provision of healthy items while convenience store ratings were insufficient. Additionally rural participants reported grocery shopping in larger towns rather than stores closer to their residence. Future research will investigate the impact of food environments on nutrition intake and overall health.Support or Funding InformationSupported by the USDA Agricultural Research Service with in kind support from the Delta Health Alliance.

Fetal face as important indicator of fetal brain function.

Fetuses show various facial expressions, such as blinking, yawning, sucking, mouthing, tongue expulsion, scowling, and smiling, assessed by four-dimensional ultrasound from the early second trimester of pregnancy. Moreover, some fetuses demonstrate emotion-like behaviors as noted in infants, children, and adults. Selective fetal responses to stimuli indicate a high degree of brain development, which is reflected in the facial reactions. The fetal face with its movements and expressions can mirror the fetal brain function and development during different stages of the fetus in utero. The fetal face might represent the key to opening the box containing the secrets of fetal brain function and development. Four-dimensional ultrasound may be an important modality in current and future research on fetal facial expressions and assist in the evaluation of the fetal brain function.

Prediction of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus by Unconjugated Estriol Levels in Maternal Serum.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between maternal serum estriol levels, which are routinely measured in the first trimester of pregnancy, and adverse pregnancy outcomes including gestational diabetes. We performed a retrospective chart analysis of women who delivered between July 1, 2007, and December 31, 2009, at Kangnam CHA Medical Center in Seoul, Korea. Only patients with available estriol measurements during their pregnancies and complete follow-up data were included in the study. The effect of estriol on the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes was examined using multinomial logistic regression analysis with age and pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) as covariates. The total number of subjects was 1,553, the mean age was 32.9 ± 3.7 years, and the mean pre-pregnancy BMI was 21.2 ± 3.0 kg/m2. Unconjugated estriol > 95th percentile of the screened population or unconjugated estriol ≥ 2.0 MoM (Multiple of the Median) was significantly associated with an increased risk for developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), after adjusting for age and pre-pregnancy maternal weight. High levels of unconjugated estriol in the maternal serum during the early second trimester of pregnancy are a useful predictor of GDM development.

Ductus venosus blood flow velocity waveforms during the early second trimester of pregnancy in a Thai population.

To establish reference ranges for ductus venosus (DV) blood flow velocities and indices during the early second trimester. A cross-sectional DV Doppler study of fetuses at 15-22 weeks of gestation was conducted at Songklanagarind Hospital, Songkhla, Thailand, during 2013-2014. The peak forward velocities were recorded and the DV indices were calculated. Predicted reference ranges based on the 5th and 95th percentiles according to the week of gestation were constructed. Among 371 fetuses, measurement of DV Doppler waveforms in the sagittal plane was achieved in 97.5% of cases. With advancing pregnancy (weeks 15 to 22), the DV velocities during ventricular systole, early diastole, and atrial contraction increased from 47.48 cm/s to 68.22 cm/s, 42.23 cm/s to 60.52 cm/s, and 15.94 cm/s to 34.84 cm/s, respectively. The time-averaged maximum value increased from 37.61 cm/s to 55.42 cm/s. The DV indices-pulsatility index for the vein, peak velocity index for the vein, preload index, and systolic/a-wave ratio-decreased from 0.79 to 0.59, 0.71 to 0.53, 0.63 to 0.47, and 2.72 to 1.90, respectively. The systolic/diastolic ratio remained relatively constant at 1.12. Normal reference ranges for DV flow velocities and indices during the early second trimester were established.

Elevated placenta growth factor levels in the early second-trimester amniotic fluid are associated with preterm delivery

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine how angiogenesis-related factors correlate with preterm delivery.Methods: A cohort of 382 pregnant women undergoing early second-trimester genetic amniocentesis was enrolled and followed-up until delivery, and the amniotic fluid was collected and stored as a nested case-control study. Cases with preterm delivery (n = 31) were compared with matched controls with term delivery (n = 62). The amniotic fluid concentrations of placenta growth factor (PlGF), angiogenins, angiopoietin-2, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase and soluble endoglin were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.Results: Women who delivered preterm had a higher amniotic PlGF concentration compared with the control group (median 12.6 pg/ml versus 6.1 pg/ml; p=0.027). Other angiogenesis-related factors did not show any differences between case and control groups. The odds ratio for preterm delivery based on amniotic fluid PlGF was 1.031 (95% confidence interval: 1.002–1.061; p=0.035). Additionally, when the cases were subdivided into early preterm, late preterm and term groups, PlGF values between the early preterm and term delivery groups were significantly different (median 16.6 pg/ml versus 6.1 pg/ml; Bonferroni-adjusted p=0.018).Conclusion: Amniotic fluid PlGF levels in the early second trimester of pregnancy are associated with preterm delivery.

Human chorionic gonadotropin, fetal sex and risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: A nested case-control study.

To assess whether human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and fetal sex are two independent risk factors for hypertensive pregnancy in the early second-trimester of pregnancy. This was a retrospective nested case-control study based on a cohort of 2521 singleton pregnancies, among whom we recruited 98 hypertensive pregnancies (subdivided into severe preeclampsia, n=34; mild preeclampsia, n=29 and gestational hypertension, n=35) and 196 normotensive pregnancies. Maternal serum HCG levels were measured at 15-20 weeks of gestation and fetal sex was determined from the neonatal record. Mann-Whitney U and chi-square tests were performed to assess differences of HCG levels and fetal sex between groups. Logistic regressions were performed to evaluate the effect of HCG and fetal sex on hypertensive pregnancy. There were 35 male and 63 female fetuses in the hypertensive group, and 102 male and 94 female fetuses in the normotensive group (p=0.008). HCG (MoM) levels were significantly higher in only severe preeclamptic pregnancies (n=34) (p=0.013). There were no significant differences of the HCG (MoM) levels between male and female fetuses in each sub-group. aOR for increased maternal HCG levels and female fetus were 2.4 (95% CI: 1.434-3.954) and 2.9 (95% CI: 1.227-6.661) respectively in severe preeclamptic pregnancies compared with normotensive pregnancies. There is a female preponderance in hypertensive pregnancies. Increased HCG levels and female fetus are two independent risk factors for severe preeclampsia in the early second-trimester of pregnancy.