Summary
Based upon our present knowledge of the endocrine processes concerned with early pregnancy, the role of exogenous heG in the prevention of habitual abortion has been examined.
A dose regime has been established administering hCG intramuscularly from earliest diagnosis of pregnancy at intervals until 16 weeks gestation.
An open study using hCG in 32 women showed a 6.2% abortion rate. A placebo-controlled study on 20 women gave a significantly better outcome using hCG (p < 0.01). A further placebo-controlled study is ongoing, the extra numbers needed to provide a definitive answer being recruited on a multi centre basis.
Pending the outcome of this study, results to date suggest hCG to be the treatment of choice for habitual abortion where no cause can be found or where a potentially treatable hormonal deficiency is suspected.
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© 1988 The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
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Harrison, R.F. (1988). Early recurrent pregnancy failure: treatment with human chorionic gonadotrophin. In: Sharp, F., Beard, R.W. (eds) Early Pregnancy Loss. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1658-5_58
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1658-5_58
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