title: Radioimmunoassay of free beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin in diagnosis of high-risk and low-risk gestational trophoblastic disease.
abstract: A radioimmunoassay was performed with monoclonal antibody 1E5, which distinguishes free beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin in the presence of intact human chorionic gonadotrophin. Serum samples were obtained from 68 pregnant women, 9 with hydatidiform mole who underwent spontaneous remission, 12 with hydatidiform mole who developed gestational trophoblastic disease, 5 with metastatic gestational trophoblastic disease of high-risk category, and 1 with choriocarcinoma concomitant with pregnancy. The concentrations of free beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin and total beta-subunit were determined on the sera. The assay data were expressed as a ratio of nanograms of free beta-subunit per 1000 mIU of total beta-subunit. The ratios, analyzed by the Wilcoxon two-sample test, indicated a highly significant correlation between high ratios and the eventual diagnosis of high-risk gestational trophoblastic disease (p = 0.0019). This study suggests that the excessive production of free beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin may identify patients with high-risk gestational trophoblastic disease much earlier and identify gestational trophoblastic disease in patients during pregnancy.
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35294.
authors: M B
authors: MB
authors: Khazaeli
authors: E S
authors: ES
authors: Buchina
authors: R A
authors: RA
authors: Pattillo
authors: S J
authors: SJ
authors: Soong
authors: K D
authors: KD
authors: Hatch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006828:Hydatidiform Mole; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012307:Risk Factors; D014328:Trophoblastic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D010446:Peptide Fragments