Serum Beta-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (β-hCG) Trends and Their Association With Abdominal Wound Healing After Cesarean Section: An Observational Study.
- 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, IND.
- 2Department of General Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, IND.
- 3Department of Community Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, IND.
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.
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BibTeX
@article{vishwakarma2026serum,
title = {{Serum Beta-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (β-hCG) Trends and Their Association With Abdominal Wound Healing After Cesarean Section: An Observational Study.}},
author = {Antima Vishwakarma and Kirti Kaithwas and Lavina Chaubey and Mamta Singh and Arvind Pratap Singh and T B Singh},
journal = {Cureus},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.7759/cureus.117049},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42953081},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Serum Beta-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (β-hCG) Trends and Their Association With Abdominal Wound Healing After Cesarean Section: An Observational Study.
AU - Antima Vishwakarma
AU - Kirti Kaithwas
AU - Lavina Chaubey
AU - Mamta Singh
AU - Arvind Pratap Singh
AU - T B Singh
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/28
JO - Cureus
DO - 10.7759/cureus.117049
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42953081
AB - 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.
SN - 2168-8184
ER -