Chorionic gonadotropin Archives - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2007;29(12):647-653
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032007001200008
Screening for major chromosomal abnormalities can be provided in the first trimester of pregnancy. Screening by a combination of fetal nuchal translucency and maternal serum free human chorionic gonadotropin and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A can identify 90% of fetuses with trisomy 21 and other major chromosomal abnormalities for a false-positive rate of 5%. This is superior to the 30% detection rate achieved by maternal age and 65% by second-trimester maternal serum biochemistry. A further improvement in the effectiveness of first-trimester screening is likely to be achieved by a risk-orientated two-stage approach. In this approach, the patients are subdivided into a high-risk group, requiring invasive testing; a low-risk group, which can be reassured that an abnormality is unlikely, and an intermediate-risk group (risk of 1 in 101 to 1 in 1000), in which further assessment is performed by first-trimester ultrasound examination (for presence/absence of the nasal bone or presence/absence of tricuspid regurgitation or normal/abnormal Doppler velocity waveform in the ductus venosus), and chorionic villus sampling is performed if their adjusted risk becomes 1 in 100 or more. Those performing first-trimester scans should be appropriately trained and their results subjected to external quality assurance. This process was well established by the Fetal Medical Foundation several years ago and is widely accepted internationally.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2007;29(12):647-653
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032007001200008
Screening for major chromosomal abnormalities can be provided in the first trimester of pregnancy. Screening by a combination of fetal nuchal translucency and maternal serum free human chorionic gonadotropin and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A can identify 90% of fetuses with trisomy 21 and other major chromosomal abnormalities for a false-positive rate of 5%. This is superior to the 30% detection rate achieved by maternal age and 65% by second-trimester maternal serum biochemistry. A further improvement in the effectiveness of first-trimester screening is likely to be achieved by a risk-orientated two-stage approach. In this approach, the patients are subdivided into a high-risk group, requiring invasive testing; a low-risk group, which can be reassured that an abnormality is unlikely, and an intermediate-risk group (risk of 1 in 101 to 1 in 1000), in which further assessment is performed by first-trimester ultrasound examination (for presence/absence of the nasal bone or presence/absence of tricuspid regurgitation or normal/abnormal Doppler velocity waveform in the ductus venosus), and chorionic villus sampling is performed if their adjusted risk becomes 1 in 100 or more. Those performing first-trimester scans should be appropriately trained and their results subjected to external quality assurance. This process was well established by the Fetal Medical Foundation several years ago and is widely accepted internationally.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2007;29(10):506-510
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032007001000003
PURPOSE: to evaluate the usefulness of the normal human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) regression curve in the early diagnosis of post-molar trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN). METHODS: a longitudinal study including 105 patients with complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) followed up at the Botucatu Center of Trophoblastic Diseases from 1998 to 2005. Serial serum hCG titers were measured fortnightly in all patients. Individual curves of the 105 patients were built. Comparison between the normal regression curve established at our center with individual hCG curves was used to screen and diagnose (plateau/rise) GTN. The number of weeks postevacuation when hCG levels exceeded the normal limits was compared with the number of weeks when hCG reached plateau/rise. RESULTS: among the 105 patients with CHM, 80 reached spontaneous remission (SR) and 25 developed GTN. Among the 80 SR patients, 7 (8.7%) initially showed hCG concentrations above normal but eventually achieved remission. All the 25 GTN patients showed deviation from the normal hCG curve at 3.84±2.57 weeks and reached plateau or rise at 8.40±2.94 weeks (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: the normal regression curve of post-molar hCG is useful in the early diagnosis of GTN.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2007;29(10):506-510
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032007001000003
PURPOSE: to evaluate the usefulness of the normal human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) regression curve in the early diagnosis of post-molar trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN). METHODS: a longitudinal study including 105 patients with complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) followed up at the Botucatu Center of Trophoblastic Diseases from 1998 to 2005. Serial serum hCG titers were measured fortnightly in all patients. Individual curves of the 105 patients were built. Comparison between the normal regression curve established at our center with individual hCG curves was used to screen and diagnose (plateau/rise) GTN. The number of weeks postevacuation when hCG levels exceeded the normal limits was compared with the number of weeks when hCG reached plateau/rise. RESULTS: among the 105 patients with CHM, 80 reached spontaneous remission (SR) and 25 developed GTN. Among the 80 SR patients, 7 (8.7%) initially showed hCG concentrations above normal but eventually achieved remission. All the 25 GTN patients showed deviation from the normal hCG curve at 3.84±2.57 weeks and reached plateau or rise at 8.40±2.94 weeks (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: the normal regression curve of post-molar hCG is useful in the early diagnosis of GTN.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1999;21(1):55-58
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031999000100009
The aim of this report is to present one case of gestational trophoblastic disease with pulmonary metastases apparently persisting despite the return of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) to normal levels after five cycles of chemotherapy (20 mg methotrexate/day for 5 days). The patient was submitted to a video-assisted thoracoscopy and the nodules were excised. Histological examination showed tissue necrosis without evidence of residual tumor. It is important to recognize that persistent nodules in the lungs of patients with metastatic gestational disease after treatment and normal beta-hCG titers may not represent viable tumor but rather necrosis and/or fibrosis.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1999;21(1):55-58
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031999000100009
The aim of this report is to present one case of gestational trophoblastic disease with pulmonary metastases apparently persisting despite the return of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) to normal levels after five cycles of chemotherapy (20 mg methotrexate/day for 5 days). The patient was submitted to a video-assisted thoracoscopy and the nodules were excised. Histological examination showed tissue necrosis without evidence of residual tumor. It is important to recognize that persistent nodules in the lungs of patients with metastatic gestational disease after treatment and normal beta-hCG titers may not represent viable tumor but rather necrosis and/or fibrosis.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2006;28(4):251-263
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032006000400008
The human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) results from a non-covalent linkage of two subunits, alpha (alphahCG) and beta (betahCG), separately synthesized by normal trophoblastic tissue, hydatiform mole, choriocarcinoma, pituitary cells, and tumoral tissues of different histologic types. The peptide chain and its further glycosylation in the secretory cell involves the complex action of different enzymes. This complexity results in the secretion of heterogeneous molecular forms. The different molecules might be found in serum, urine and amniotic fluid of pregnant women; serum, urine, and vesicles of patients with hydatiform mole or choriocarcinoma and in other biological fluids of normal non-pregnant women and men or patients with different embryonary types of cancer. Both the intact hCG molecule and its free subunits and the hyperglycosylated (H-hCG), nicked (N-hCG) and core fragment of betahCG (CF- betahCG) variant forms have relevant clinical use. Depending on the prevalent molecular form or the proportion of the variant form to the intact hCG in a determined clinical situation the measurement of a specific molecule is chosen. This review analyzes the clinical use of hCG and its related molecules in the early detection of ectopic pregnancy or patients with higher risk of abortion, in the identification of an embryo or fetus with chromosomal abnormalities, and in the evaluation of risk for preeclampsia or fetal growth restriction. The review also examines the use of hCG and variant forms as tumor markers. It is concluded that it is useful to measure hCG and/or related molecules in clinical practice, but difficulties in developing and achievement of more sensitive and specific new assays limit their use.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2006;28(4):251-263
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032006000400008
The human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) results from a non-covalent linkage of two subunits, alpha (alphahCG) and beta (betahCG), separately synthesized by normal trophoblastic tissue, hydatiform mole, choriocarcinoma, pituitary cells, and tumoral tissues of different histologic types. The peptide chain and its further glycosylation in the secretory cell involves the complex action of different enzymes. This complexity results in the secretion of heterogeneous molecular forms. The different molecules might be found in serum, urine and amniotic fluid of pregnant women; serum, urine, and vesicles of patients with hydatiform mole or choriocarcinoma and in other biological fluids of normal non-pregnant women and men or patients with different embryonary types of cancer. Both the intact hCG molecule and its free subunits and the hyperglycosylated (H-hCG), nicked (N-hCG) and core fragment of betahCG (CF- betahCG) variant forms have relevant clinical use. Depending on the prevalent molecular form or the proportion of the variant form to the intact hCG in a determined clinical situation the measurement of a specific molecule is chosen. This review analyzes the clinical use of hCG and its related molecules in the early detection of ectopic pregnancy or patients with higher risk of abortion, in the identification of an embryo or fetus with chromosomal abnormalities, and in the evaluation of risk for preeclampsia or fetal growth restriction. The review also examines the use of hCG and variant forms as tumor markers. It is concluded that it is useful to measure hCG and/or related molecules in clinical practice, but difficulties in developing and achievement of more sensitive and specific new assays limit their use.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2004;26(6):471-475
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000600008
OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the correlation between the beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) serum levels and the measurement of the endometrial thickness, in patients under treatment of ectopic pregnancy with methotrexate. METHODS: a prospective study in which the levels of beta-hCG as well as the largest measurement of the endometrial thickness on the uterine longitudinal axis through transvaginal ultrasound were evaluated at 24-48 h intervals in thirty-eight patients with hemodynamic stability, ectopic pregnancy, diameter <3.5 cm, and increased beta-hCG levels. All the patients got methotrexate in a single-dose therapy (50 mg/m² im). We compared the mean values of beta-hCG and endometrial thickness of cases that evolved successfully versus the poor responders using the Student t-test. Afterwards we analyzed the difference of the beta-hCG mean serum values related to the endometrial thickness(<10.0 mm and >10.0 mm) independently of the response to treatment employing the Student t-test. RESULTS: the mean values of beta-hCG and endometrial thickness in patients with successful treatment (28 cases) were 1936.2 mIU/ml and 6.4 mm, respectively, significanlty lower than the mean values for insuccessful cases: 6831.3 mIU/ml and 11.7 mm, respectively (p<0.05). The mean values of beta-hCG in women with endometrial thickness <10.0 mm were 2008.7 mIU/ml, significantly lower than the ones with endometrium >10.0 mm, whose mean values were 6925.9 mIU/ml (<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: the measurement of the endometrial thickness through ultrasound is under the beta-hCG serum values influence, and it showed to be a valuable additional factor to suggest medical treatment with methotrexate in the non-disrupted ectopic pregnancy.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2004;26(6):471-475
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000600008
OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the correlation between the beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) serum levels and the measurement of the endometrial thickness, in patients under treatment of ectopic pregnancy with methotrexate. METHODS: a prospective study in which the levels of beta-hCG as well as the largest measurement of the endometrial thickness on the uterine longitudinal axis through transvaginal ultrasound were evaluated at 24-48 h intervals in thirty-eight patients with hemodynamic stability, ectopic pregnancy, diameter <3.5 cm, and increased beta-hCG levels. All the patients got methotrexate in a single-dose therapy (50 mg/m² im). We compared the mean values of beta-hCG and endometrial thickness of cases that evolved successfully versus the poor responders using the Student t-test. Afterwards we analyzed the difference of the beta-hCG mean serum values related to the endometrial thickness(<10.0 mm and >10.0 mm) independently of the response to treatment employing the Student t-test. RESULTS: the mean values of beta-hCG and endometrial thickness in patients with successful treatment (28 cases) were 1936.2 mIU/ml and 6.4 mm, respectively, significanlty lower than the mean values for insuccessful cases: 6831.3 mIU/ml and 11.7 mm, respectively (p<0.05). The mean values of beta-hCG in women with endometrial thickness <10.0 mm were 2008.7 mIU/ml, significantly lower than the ones with endometrium >10.0 mm, whose mean values were 6925.9 mIU/ml (<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: the measurement of the endometrial thickness through ultrasound is under the beta-hCG serum values influence, and it showed to be a valuable additional factor to suggest medical treatment with methotrexate in the non-disrupted ectopic pregnancy.