An association between fetal abdominal wall defects and elevated levels of human chorionic gonadotropin in mid-trimester.

We analysed maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in 16 pregnancies with fetal abdominal wall defects previously identified prenatally by elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) or at birth. The AFP levels had a mean of 6.38 MOM (range 0.34-15.65), as expected with these defects. The hCG levels had a mean of 1.82 MOM (range 0.23-4.11). The hCG levels in five pregnancies (31.25 per cent) were above 2.30 MOM. Elevated levels of hCG may be associated with fetal abdominal wall defects.