High levels of hCG in choriocarcinoma can result in renal failure and a false-negative pregnancy test in men.
The diagnosis of choriocarcinoma was delayed because a urinary pregnancy test for hCG was falsely negative. This man's hCG rose to 25,000,000 iu/l. He developed renal impairment, probably due to precipitation of hCG in his renal rubules.
Meyer
T
T
Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, UK.
Cole
L A
LA
Richman
P I
PI
Mitchell
H D
HD
Myers
J
J
Rustin
G J
GJ
D000328:Adult; D002822:Choriocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D011258:Pregnancy Tests; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology
D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human