Similarity of insulin-dependent diabetics' and non-insulin-dependent diabetics' levels of beta-hCG and unconjugated estriol with controls: no need to adjust as with alpha-fetoprotein.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if the same systematic alteration of serum values seen for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in diabetic patients is also seen for beta-hCG and unconjugated estriol (uE3).


METHODS
Serum AFP, beta-hCG, and uE3 results were obtained in 18,639 patients for whom complete follow-up information was obtained. Patients were divided into euglycemic (n = 18,088), insulin-requiring diabetics (n = 104), and non-insulin-requiring diabetics (n = 437), as well as by race.


RESULTS
The 20% adjustment used for AFP appropriately corrects serum values. No such systematic variation is seen for either beta-hCG or uE3 by glycemic status or race.


CONCLUSIONS
No adjustment for beta-hCG or uE3 is necessary for diabetes for biochemical screening programs.
Evans
M I
MI
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hutzel Hospital/Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA.
O'Brien
J E
JE
Dvorin
E
E
Krivchenia
E L
EL
Drugan
A
A
Hume
R F
RF
Johnson
M P
MP
D001741:Black or African American; D000782:Aneuploidy; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D044383:Black People; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood*; D004964:Estriol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D044465:White People; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D004964:Estriol