What does a high hcg value mean?

Hcg is a blood value used to indicate whether a woman is pregnant. The normal value is less than <10μg/L. If it is found to be too high during the examination, it may be caused by the gestational age being inconsistent, or it may be caused by multiple pregnancies. In these two cases, the high hcg value does not affect the normal development of the fetus; but it may also be caused by abnormal pregnancy, such as hydatidiform mole, gestational hypertension, etc. In these cases, professional examination and treatment must be carried out.

1. What is the normal value of hCG?

The normal value of blood hCG is <10μg/L, and the normal value of β-hCG is <3.1μg/L. β-hCG is a part of hCG. Generally, the β-hCG radioimmunoassay value of a normal woman is less than 3.1. If it exceeds 5, the possibility of pregnancy can be considered. If it exceeds 10, pregnancy can be basically confirmed.

The absolute values ​​of serum hCG vary greatly at different stages of pregnancy and between pregnant women. They are not comparable with each other and can only be compared within themselves. During the first 3 months of pregnancy, hCG levels approximately double every 2.2±0.5 days.

2. Function of hCG

1. It has the functions of FSH and LH, maintains the life of the menstrual corpus luteum, and enlarges the menstrual corpus luteum into the corpus luteum of pregnancy;

2. Promote the aromatization of androgens into estrogen and stimulate the formation of progesterone;

3. Inhibit the stimulation of plant lectins on lymphocytes. Human chorionic gonadotropin can be adsorbed on the surface of trophoblast cells to prevent embryonic trophoblast cells from being attacked by maternal lymphocytes;

4. It has LH-like function. Before the fetal pituitary gland secretes LH, it stimulates the fetal testicles to secrete testosterone to promote male sexual differentiation. It can also promote gonadal development, stimulate the activity of interstitial cells in the testicles in men, and increase the secretion of androgen (testosterone). It is of great significance for the treatment of male patients with combined pituitary deficiency. It can not only promote gonadal development and the secretion of male hormones, but also promote the development of secondary sexual characteristics.

5. It can bind to the TSH receptor of maternal thyroid cells and stimulate thyroid activity.

3. What is the reason for high hcg value?

1. The time of the last menstrual period may be miscalculated, resulting in a discrepancy between the actual gestational age and the estimated gestational age.

2. It may be twins or multiple births, because the value of multiple pregnancy is higher than that of single pregnancy.

If the doctor confirms that it is one of the above two situations, then the pregnant woman does not need to worry.

3. It may be an abnormal pregnancy - hydatidiform mole. The blood hCG value is usually higher than the normal pregnancy value of the corresponding gestational week. If a hydatidiform mole is confirmed, the patient needs to be hospitalized immediately.

4. On the Down syndrome screening checklist, the reference range of the median multiple of β-hCG is 0-2.5. If it is higher than this value, it will have an adverse effect on the safety of mother and child during pregnancy. For example, pregnant women are more likely to suffer from gestational hypertension. This needs to be judged based on the actual individual situation. Some pregnant women have received hCG injections to preserve the fetus in early pregnancy, so there is a possibility that the hCG values ​​will be high during the Down syndrome screening.