title: Identification of patients with persistent trophoblastic disease by means of a normal human chorionic gonadotropin regression curve.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Data from the Dutch Central Registry of Hydatidiform Mole were used to establish a reference human chorionic gonadotropin regression curve after molar pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A normal serum human chorionic gonadotropin regression corridor was constructed after fitting data from 130 patients with uneventful human chorionic gonadotropin regression after evacuation of a complete hydatidiform mole. Retrospectively, data from 77 patients with persistent trophoblastic disease were analyzed by means of this normal corridor. Measurements were performed with a radioimmunoassay for both native and free human chorionic gonadotropin beta-subunits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Human chorionic gonadotropin disappearance curves showed a biphasic decline with median serum half-lives of 1.8 and 12.8 days. Median time until normalization was 74 days (range 28 to 430). With the 95th percentile line, 71 of 77 patients (92%) with persistent trophoblastic disease could be identified. In > 50% of cases this could be achieved within 6 weeks from evacuation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The normal regression corridor allows identification of patients with persistent trophoblastic disease and an expectant attitude within the limits of the corridor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Yedema
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Verheijen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kenemans
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Schijf
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Borm
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Segers
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D006828:Hydatidiform Mole / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014328:Trophoblastic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D010446:Peptide Fragments