{
  "abstract": "Background and objective Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) is an established biomarker in pregnancy assessment and in the management of trophoblastic and germ cell disorders. Beyond its classical endocrine role, β-hCG has biological relevance to inflammation, angiogenesis, endothelial function, immune regulation, and tissue remodeling, all of which are central to wound repair. The relationship between postoperative β-hCG decline and abdominal wound healing after cesarean section remains insufficiently characterized. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between serial postoperative serum β-hCG trends and abdominal wound healing following cesarean section. Methods This hospital-based observational analytical study included 436 women undergoing elective or emergency lower-segment cesarean section. Baseline demographic, obstetric, and perioperative variables were recorded. Serum β-hCG levels were measured preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and on postoperative days (PODs) 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 14, and 21. Post-cesarean abdominal wound outcomes were clinically assessed and categorized as healthy or unhealthy. Comparative analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were performed. Results Mean β-hCG declined from 15,881.99 IU/L preoperatively to 143.13 IU/L on POD 21. Preoperative and immediate postoperative β-hCG levels did not differ significantly between wound groups. From POD 2 onward, women with unhealthy wounds had significantly higher β-hCG levels than those with healthy wounds (p < 0.001). POD 7 β-hCG showed excellent discrimination, with an area under the curve of 0.901. A cutoff of 1884 IU/L yielded 82.6% sensitivity and 81.2% specificity. Conclusions Slower postoperative β-hCG decline was associated with impaired abdominal wound healing after cesarean section. POD 7 β-hCG may serve as an adjunctive biomarker for early risk stratification.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, IND.",
    "Department of General Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, IND.",
    "Department of Community Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, IND."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Antima Vishwakarma"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Kirti Kaithwas"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Lavina Chaubey"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Mamta Singh"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Arvind Pratap Singh"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "T B Singh"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/av9v7m87f365z.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.7759/cureus.117049",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13714670",
  "id": "av9v7m87f365z",
  "issns": [
    "2168-8184"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42953081",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Endocrinology/Diabetes/Metabolism"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "General Surgery"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Obstetrics/Gynecology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2729|Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214663482",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13714670?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13714670",
  "pmid": "42953081",
  "published": "2026-09-28",
  "publisher": "Cureus Inc.",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/av9v7m87f365z.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-31T00:20:41Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42953081",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42953081"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-01T12:22:07Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13714670",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.117049"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2729|Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions",
      "subfield": "reproductive-child"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Serum Beta-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (β-hCG) Trends and Their Association With Abdominal Wound Healing After Cesarean Section: An Observational Study.",
  "title_text": "Serum Beta-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (β-hCG) Trends and Their Association With Abdominal Wound Healing After Cesarean Section: An Observational Study.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-01T12:22:07Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/av9v7m87f365z",
  "venue": "Cureus",
  "versions": []
}