Background: Pre-eclampsia is a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Exact aetiology of this potentially fatal disorder remains poorly understood. A number of theories have been put forward where different biochemical markers have been implicated in the causal association of pre-eclampsia. Most current hypotheses regarding the pathophysiologic mechanisms of pre-eclampsia reveal early placental abnormalities. Previous attempts have been made to determine the role of maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin (a product of the placenta) in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia. However, none has ever been carried out in this environment. An effective predictive measure will allow careful surveillance of mothers at high risk of pre-eclampsia so as to detect the condition early and institute appropriate management. Objectives: To determine the correlation between maternal serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) and the development of pre-eclampsia as well as to evaluate its utility as a predictive test for pre-eclampsia. Methodology: It was a prospective cross-sectional study carried out on pregnant women in the second trimester of pregnancy between 14-20 weeks of gestation presenting at antenatal clinic of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital. Detailed history was taken and thorough clinical examination was carried out. A pretested structured interviewer administered questionnaire was filled out for all the participants. Blood sample was then taken under aseptic technique for quantitative serum β-hcg estimation using the ELISA technique. The subjects were followed up till delivery and observed for development of pre-eclampsia. They were then divided into two groups: group A - women who developed pre-eclampsia, and group B - women who did not develop pre-eclampsia till delivery. Data analysis was done using computer software SPSS Version 20. Independent T-test was used to compare mean of serum β-hCG values between the two groups of women, setting the level of significance (P-value) at < 0.05. Correlation between serum β-hCG concentration and blood pressure was studied to see whether the two variables exhibit any linear correlation. Backward stepwise logistic regression was then used to determine a prediction model for pre-eclampsia.