What is the expected rise in hCG levels for a normal intrauterine pregnancy over 48 hours?

In a normal intrauterine pregnancy, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels typically double approximately every 48 hours during the early weeks. This doubling corresponds to an increase of about 100%. However, for the context of the question regarding the expected rise in hCG levels over a 48-hour period, a rise of 53% is often referenced as a minimum expected increase—this is derived from the doubling time window.

This means that while numerous factors may influence individual hCG levels among different patients, an expected increase of around 53% is consistent with normal physiological changes during the early stages of pregnancy. It indicates that the pregnancy is progressing appropriately, reflecting normal trophoblastic activity and the viability of the pregnancy.

The other options, while they signify increases, do not represent the commonly established benchmarks used in clinical practice to confirm a healthy early pregnancy. Specifically, rises below this threshold may raise concerns about the health of the pregnancy, leading clinicians to consider further evaluation.