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The Beta‐Subunit of Chorionic Gonadotropin as a Tumour Marker in Gestational Trophoblastic Disease
Author(s) -
Khoo S. K.,
Daunter B.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.1980.tb00893.x
Subject(s) - gestational trophoblastic disease , trophoblastic neoplasm , human chorionic gonadotropin , radioimmunoassay , medicine , disease , trophoblastic tumor , gonadotropin , gestational age , clinical significance , hormone , gestation , pregnancy , endocrinology , gastroenterology , biology , genetics
Summary: The clinical usefulness of the serum level of the β subunit by radioimmunoassay was evaluated in 96 patients with gestational trophoblastic disease. The measurement of the hormone‐specific β subunit has allowed a better understanding of the activity of the various types of disease, with a correlation between the initial serum levels and the different subtypes of hydatidiform mole, and the ability to predict the development of malignant sequelae. The phenomenon of trophoblastic persistence after uterine evacuation was confirmed: although the half‐life of the β subunit was 4 days during the early phase, there was an average period of 8 weeks before levels fell to negative and 12 weeks was the limit for spontaneous regression. The serial β subunit levels were found to provide an accurate indication of the clinical course of the disease in untreated and treated patients, and treatment could be withheld after 3 consecutive weekly negative values.