Search

Background Maternal serum free beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (free β-hCG) is used as a biomarker in first trimester screening for fetal Down’s syndrome. Production of free β-hCG can occur in vitro in a time- and temperature-dependent manner; thus, the current Scottish screening protocol states samples must be received by the laboratory within 72 h. To assess the validity of the protocol, an audit was conducted to determine the impact of transit time on maternal serum free β-hCG multiple of median (MoM) values in the Scottish screened population. Methods Corrected MoM values from antenatal screening carried out over one year (April 2017 to March 2018) were stratified according to sample transit time and compared. To investigate possible environmental temperature effects, the data were split according to season and maternal serum free β-hCG concentrations from summer and winter compared. Results Of the 28,368 samples included in the study, 24,368 were received on the day of phlebotomy or after one day in transit. Only 1.5% of samples were received after 3 days in transit. The difference in maternal serum free β-hCG MoM values due to transit time was not significant. No statistical difference was found between maternal serum free β-hCG concentrations from samples collected in summer and winter months. Conclusion The current sample receipt protocol in use by the Scottish Down’s syndrome screening programme is fit for purpose.

Beta Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (b hCG) assays are sandwich chromatographic immunoassays which give a false negative results at high hCG concentrations and also in the presence of variants of hCG like hyperglycosylated hCG and hCG core fragments. This is imperative in everyday clinical scenario as it delays the diagnosis of pregnancy and its related complications. We have discussed two such cases where in the first case the diagnosis of hydatidiform mole was delayed due hook effect whereas in the second case the diagnosis of GTD was missed because of variant hook effect. Keywords: Hcg – human chorionicganadotropin.

Background: Performing surgical procedure on a pregnant woman may have major consequences for the fetus, patient, healthcare worker and institution. Assessment of pregnancy status in women of reproductive age when admitted to hospital is therefore an important safety practice. Documentation of likelihood of pregnancy among women admitted in the surgical units of Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) is not known. Objective: To assess documentation of pregnancy status and possibility of pregnancy before surgery at KNH. Methods: This was a retrospective study involving all surgical units of female patients of reproductive age with various diagnoses and scheduled to undergo surgery between January 2011 and December 2016. Data collected included documentation of age, parity, last menstrual period, level of education, use of family planning, and pregnancy status confirmation using urine or serum beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) and ultrasound. Results: We analysed data from 331 patient records. All (100%) of the sampled records had age of the patient recorded, 43% had information on parity documented, 35% had last normal menstrual period recorded, and only 26% of the records showed information on use of family planning. 19 (5.7%) patients were confirmed to be pregnant using ultrasound and urine β-HCG. Conclusion: Although only a small proportion of women admitted in surgical units were pregnant, data on likelihood of pregnancy as deduced from information on age, last menstrual period and use of family planning were missing. Keywords: Pregnant, Fetus, Safety, Surgery, Anaesthesia

Introduction Elevated serum beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (β-hCG) in a female normally indicates pregnancy or possibly, gestational trophoblastic disease or ovarian germ cell tumours. Expression of β-hCG has been demonstrated in cervical and endometrial carcinoma and other non-germ cell tumours of the ovary, vulva, breast, prostate, lung, colon, oral/facial tissue and stomach. Case report We report a 43-year-old premenopausal woman with p16 positive squamous cell anal cancer. Pre-treatment urinary screening was positive for β-hCG (218 IU/L), which was confirmed on serum and expressed in the tumour. Pelvic ultrasound ruled out pregnancy. Cervical cytology detected human papilloma virus p16 infection and a potential squamous intraepithelial lesion. Management and outcome: She received definitive chemoradiation (Mitomycin/5-fluorouracil) for six weeks. β-hCG, taken four weeks post completion, had returned to normal levels (Discussion Cases of elevated serum β-hCG are documented in different cancers including breast, gastric, lung, ovarian and renal cell. In our case, the elevated β-hCG is probably ectopic excretion by the squamous cell carcinoma tumour in the anus. While this has never been reported previously in the anus, it is likely due to the documented risk of development of precancerous as well as cancerous anal and cervical lesions through human papilloma virus infection. Raised levels of β-hCG have been reported in cervical cancers. Other possible causes of β-hCG elevation were excluded. Following treatment, her β-hCG level returned to normal strengthening the hypothesis that β-hCG elevation was due to the anal carcinoma. In conclusion, unexplained ectopic secretion of β-hCG may be the first sign of a primary malignancy.

Ovarian molar pregnancy, though a very rare entity, behaves like any other molar pregnancy. After surgical management, close follow‐up with β‐hCG surveillance is invariable to detect progression to persistent gestational trophoblastic disease.

Objectives Screening for chromosomal abnormalities in the first trimester of pregnancy is based on maternal age, nuchal translucency (NT), and biochemical markers (pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A and free beta human chorionic gonadotrophin). We have assessed the influence of screenings and outcomes in previous pregnancies on screenings in subsequent pregnancies. Methods Retrospective study of the correlation between the variables of first trimester combined screening for chromosome abnormalities in patients with subsequent pregnancies. Excluded were gestations with fetal aneuploidies. Results Between July 1999 and December 2009, there were 2291 women with more than 1 euploid pregnancy screened in the first trimester in our hospital. There was a moderate correlation for pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (ρ = 0.530, p

Introduction: Recent reports suggest that up to 30% of medical interventions provide no benefit to patients. In a response to ED over-crowding, guidelines commonly exist to guide blood test ordering in patients waiting to see a physician. In many cases, this increases the use of tests without benefiting patients. We describe a quality improvement project designed to reduce the number of laboratory tests considered routine for waiting patients. Methods: A multidisciplinary group reviewed existing symptom-prompted nursing blood test guidelines for serum electrolytes and glucose, renal function tests, liver tests, lipase, toxicological tests and beta Human Chorionic gonadotrophin levels. Order sets were revised with tests eliminated from the routine panels that were not felt to routinely contribute to patient care. The new guidelines were communicated to nursing staff in a series of educational sessions, and the revised guidelines were posted at nursing stations. Physician ordering practice was not changed. A pre-post evaluation compared the period 1 December 2014, - 30 November 2015 with 1 December 2015 - 30 November 2016. Clinical outcomes and patient wait times were not evaluated. Results: The use of tests in these categories decreased 32% between the two periods, at a net saving of $210, 246c. The largest savings came from total protein (73% decrease), Creatine kinase (68%), chloride (64%), glucose (49%), and albumin (47%). Sodium/Potassium testing decreased by only 13%. The only increase in test ordering recorded was AST (3% increase). Conclusion: Simply changing symptom driven order sets resulted in significant savings to the system. In the era of Choosing wisely regular review of lab order sets is indicated. Further study is needed to assess the effect of these changes on patient flow and on clinical outcome.

Mediastinal germ cell tumors are rare tumors. It is classic to divide those tumors into two categories, seminomas and nonseminomatous germ cell tumors: teratomas (mature or immature), embryonal carcinomas, yolk sac tumors, and choriocarcinomas. Each histological sub-type can be associated to another sub-type that realise a so-called mixed germ cell tumor. Diagnosis strategy is currently well codified for malignant mediastinal germ cell tumors. It greatly benefits from tumoral markers (alpha-fetoprotein and beta human chorionic gonadotrophin). For instance, the treatment strategy still raises some specific problems to each histological type. The treatment of seminomatous tumors is standardised--chemotherapy/surgery on residual tumor greater than 3 cm/radiotherapy on viable persistent residual tumors--and provides very satisfying results. As for the nonseminomatous germ cell tumors, the situation is dramatically different. The treatment strategy is less standardised--association of chemotherapy and surgery--and the prognosis is very severe.

Bleeding in early pregnancy is a common occurrence. Some form of bleeding complicates at least a quarter of clinically diagnosed pregnancies. The different types of miscarriage and early pregnancy failure, along with ectopic pregnancies and gestational trophoblastic disease account for the bulk of early pregnancy bleeding problems. The management of early pregnancy bleeding has been overhauled, moving away from in-patient care and out of hours surgical treatment, to out-patient care with same or next day elective surgical treatment or alternatively, medical and conservative management options. This change has been principally brought about through the establishment of early pregnancy assessment clinics run on a daily basis, in combination with the more widespread availability and use of quantitative serum beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (bHCG) measurements and transvaginal ultrasound scanning.

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of mid-trimester biochemical screening on the prenatal diagnosis of Down's syndrome. All patients booked for antenatal care at the Royal Free Hospital are offered a double marker biochemical screening test (alpha-fetoprotein and free beta human chorionic gonadotrophin). The results of double marker screening tests and the notes of all cases of trisomy 21 from 1 April 1993 to 31 March 1995 were reviewed. Of the 6170 women booked in the antenatal clinic during this 2-year period 4427 (71.8%) took up the offer of biochemical screening. Four hundred and twenty-nine (9.7% of those screened) were reported positive and 293 karyotypes were performed in this group (68.3% uptake) and 253 karyotypes were also performed for other indications. Thirteen of 21 affected pregnancies had biochemical screening. The detection rate of biochemical screening in women aged37 years was 0% (0/2) with a 8.4% false positive rate. In women aged 37 years the detection rate was 100% (11/11) with a false positive rate of 23%. The overall detection rate for Down's syndrome was 84.6% and the false positive rate was 9.5%. In conclusion, biochemical screening successfully targeted affected pregnancies in women aged 37 years and was useful in reducing the fetal karyotyping rate. However, it was disappointing in the prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 21 in women37 years old.

Placenta percreta is a rare obstetric condition associated with life-threatening hemorrhage. MR imaging has a role in prenatal diagnosis of these cases. However, its role in the postnatal diagnosis and in the follow up yet to be established.A 33-year-old patient has adherent placenta following spontaneous delivery at 37 weeks gestation. MR imaging diagnosed placenta percreta. Intramuscular methotrexate treatment was initiated with follow up with serial beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-hCG). In spite of dropping of the level of beta-hCG, the trophoblastic tissue was still present 6 weeks postnatally where the patient complained of vaginal bleeding where she opted to abdominal hysterectomy.Patients who are suitable for non-surgical therapy, T2-weighted MR imaging may, in conjunction with serial beta-hCG assays, provide an alternative treatment modality for cases of placenta percreta.

Although beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-HCG) is a clinically-useful tumour marker in gestational trophoblastic neoplasia, there is limited information on how serum beta HCG regresses in molar pregnancy and choriocarcinoma during chemotherapy. The study included 41 patients who had been treated by single- and multidrug regimens, and decay curves for regression of beta HCG in the circulation in these patients were fitted to the data. Thirty-three patients achieved a biochemical remission ('cured') by first-line chemotherapy; this gave an overall efficacy rate of 80%. The beta HCG decay curves convey useful information of the chemosensitivity of the tumour, and may assist in determining the time required for treatment and earlier change in treatment for the chemoresistant tumour.

Two representative immunoassays for measuring thyroxine and beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin in serum, using the Opus immunoassay analyzer, were evaluated by comparing them to the reference RIA for T4 and beta-HCG enzyme immunoassay. Both assays were superior in accuracy and precision than the reference methods and exhibited good linearity throughout the concentration range needed for discriminating abnormally low and elevated concentrations from the established reference ranges of thyroxine and beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin in serum. Correlation between the results of the Opus immunoassays and the reference assays for T4 and beta-HCG was very good with correlation coefficients of 0.92 and 0.98, respectively.

Traditional Gaussian approaches to biochemical screening make calculations very cumbersome. We have sought to develop a logistic regression mathematical model for the calculation of risk for trisomy 21 in multiple marker screening that would be more "user friendly." Biochemical screening data from 15,444 patients with confirmed normal outcomes and 28 with trisomy 21 were analyzed by logistic regression analysis (LRA) to produce a direct mathematical approach to risk calculation that combines the improvements in sensitivity and specificity already demonstrated by us with extreme value cumulative function surface fittings, but which can be extended for other exploratory variables. LRA yields a 71.4% sensitivity with a 95% specificity which is comparable to our previously published discriminant aneuploidy detection (DADs) approach; both are an improvement over the commonly used Gaussian approach of risk assessment. In our study population, LRA performed as well as DADs; both performed better than the Gaussian method, and LRA is a simpler approach.

Beta human chorionic gonadotrophin levels have been assessed in blood serum of 79 patients with bladder tumours before and seven days after transurethral electroresection (TUR). With the growth grade of anaplasia and staging the mean serum beta HCG level increased. Beta HCG was a good biological marker to differentiate between superficial and deep tumours.

The current study was undertaken to investigate the use of beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-HCG) concentration and other significant factors to predict the likelihood of an IVF pregnancy progressing to detection of cardiac activity by ultrasound, and to create data tables which can be used for patient counselling. A retrospective data analysis was undertaken of 1374 IVF cycles performed from January 1997 to July 2007, resulting in 662 pregnancies. Maternal age (P = 0.0005), day-14 (P < 0.001) and day-16 (P < 0.001) post-oocyte aspiration beta-HCG concentrations were found to be significant in predicting pregnancy outcome. Multiple logistic regression modelling revealed that the most accurate predictive model used a single day-14 beta-HCG concentration and maternal age. Day-14 and day-16 beta-HCG concentrations were highly correlated, with the addition of a day-16 concentration adding no additional predictive value. Ongoing pregnancy rates were proportional to day-14 beta-HCG concentration and inversely proportional to maternal age. The multiple pregnancy incidence increased proportionally with the initial beta-HCG concentration. Thus, for the counselling of patients following IVF, a single day-14 post-oocyte-aspiration beta-HCG concentration and maternal age are most predictive of the pregnancy continuing to detection of cardiac activity by ultrasound.

The VU University Medical Center (VUmc) was the first hospital in the Netherlands to introduce the Delfia Xpress for the analysis of free β-human chorionic gonadotrophin (β-hCG) and pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) in the first trimester screening program for Down syndrome. Since then, others have implemented this system. In this study, we tested the equality of measurements for free β-hCG and PAPP-A between Delfia Xpress systems and one AutoDelfia system.: A total of 40 serum samples were aliquoted and stored at –20°C. Samples were analyzed by six Delfia Xpress systems and one AutoDelfia system over a time period of 2 years.: The relationships between free β-hCG and PAPP-A were excellent for the different Delfia Xpress systems (r>0.99, p0.99, p: We demonstrate an excellent agreement for the analysis of PAPP-A and free β-hCG between Delfia Xpress systems and one AutoDelfia system.Clin Chem Lab Med 2009;47:222–6.

Editor,—We wish to raise three important points regarding the diagnosis, aetiology, and management of β-human chorionic gonadotrophin (β-hCG) induced hyperthyroidism.1 (1) β-hCG induced hyperthyroidism is characterised by very high concentrations of β-hCG and these may …

Screening for aneuploidy using maternal age has a low detection rate and high false positive rate. Second trimester maternal serum screening increases trisomy 21 detection and decreases the false positive rate. First trimester screening would enable definitive diagnosis with chorionic villus sampling, and simple surgical termination of affected pregnancies would still be an option. Nuchal translucency (NT), free beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (f beta HCG) and maternal age were assessed in 302 patients before chorionic villus sampling. NT positively and f beta HCG negatively correlated with gestation, but neither correlated with maternal age nor with each other. Both NT and f beta HCG were increased in trisomy 21. NT was increased and f beta HCG was decreased in trisomy 18. Multivariate discriminant analysis enabled 87.5% detection of trisomy 21 in this high-risk population, for a 14% false positive rate. In a simulated normal population, using a risk cut-off of 1 in 250, 71% detection was achieved for a 7% false positive rate. The combination of NT, f beta HCG and maternal age is a simple, readily available and viable first trimester screening strategy.

Summary We report two young men with gynaecomastia in whom the underlying causative metastatic germ cell malignancies were not diagnosed for prolonged time periods. Despite the fact that cancer is an uncommon cause of gynaecomastia, doctors should consider germ cell malignancy, even in the absence of testicular symptoms or signs, in previously healthy young men with recent gynaecomastia or other unusual symptoms or signs. Serum beta human chorionic gonadotrophin and other germ cell malignancy markers (alpha fetoprotein and lactic dehydrogenase) should always be assayed. If a testicular primary site is not clinically apparent, there should be early recourse to scrotal ultrasonography.

16018 Background: Patients (pts) with metastatic non seminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT) with elevated beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (s-HCG) can present with hyperthyroidism. This paraneopla...

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between unexplained very highly elevated maternal serum beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) in the second trimester of pregnancy and adverse outcome of pregnancy. In a case–controlled study of 3463 women who opted for second trimester serum screening for Down's syndrome, 124 were found to have an unexplained elevated serum beta-hCG of greater than 3.5 multiples of the median (MoM), 40 of whom had a serum beta-hCG of greater than 5.0 MoM. For a large number of adverse outcomes, these women were compared to a control group of women with serum beta-hCG of around the median. In the elevated beta-hCG group statistically significantly more babies required admission to the special care baby unit (P = 0.02) or were small for gestational age (SGA) (P = 0.03). The mean birth weight was also statistically significantly lower in the elevated beta-hCG group. Women with a serum beta-hCG of ≥5, ≥6, ≥7 or ≥ 8 MoM were associated with SGA in 40%, 44%, 64%...

The haemoglobin-F levels and F-cell numbers were assessed in 19 patients with different urogenital cancers. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta HCG), total and prostatic acid phosphatase levels were also measured. HbF levels were found to be elevated in patients with testicular and prostatic cancer. No significant correlation was observed between HbF, AFP and beta HCG levels. The findings suggest that HbF production could be enhanced in patients with testicular and prostatic carcinomas and might be a useful marker to the disease activity.

Summary Measurements of HCG and carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) were made in 26 patients with ovarian cancer to evaluate these substances as tumour markers; 13·4 per cent of 194 CEA estimations and 14·6 per cent of 144 HCG estimations were abnormal. CEA values were abnormal in 9 out of 26 patients and HCG values in 13 out of 26 patients. The implications of these findings particularly the presence of HCG are discussed.

Beta-HCG in serum was analysed in 64 cases of ectopic tubal pregnancy who wree different groups; ruptured ectopic pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy accompanied by amenorrhea or adnexal mass and ectopic pregnancy without palpable adnexal mass and amenorrhea. The mean HCG levels for the three groups were 8 790 IU/l, 2 580 IU/l and 690 IU/l, respectively, which related more to the symptoms than to the estimated length of pregnancy. Eleven per cent of the women had an IUD and five per cent were taking low dose gestagens. Screening of cases with acute lower abdominal pain or irregular vaginal bleeding with beta-HCG in serum will facilitate an early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy and be of special value in patients with less typical symptoms.

One hundred and eighty-four patients with testicular germ-cell tumours, 92 with seminoma and 92 with non-seminomatous germ-cell tumours (NSGCT) had total lactate dehydrogenase (LD) assay performed of the time of initial staging following archidectomy. The proportion of patients with elevated plasma LD and the mean plasma LD increased with advancing stage and increasing tumour bulk for both seminoma and NSGCT. Of patients receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy, 87.5% with seminoma and 63% with NSGCT had elevated plasma LD with subsequent levels reflecting regression or progression of disease. Elevated plasma LD levels were seen in four of seven seminoma, and in 18 of 30 NSGCT patients relapsing after primary treatment. The LD assay provides useful information, and complements the routine measurement of alphafetoprotein (AFP) and beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (βhCG) in the management of patients with testicular germ-cell tumours.

Serum alpha-fetoprotein and beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin levels were estimated in 115 patients. Sixty-nine patients had non-seminomatous germ cell tumours and 34 patients had seminomas. Twenty-six patients showed elevated serum makers.

Maternal serum levels of beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-hCG) concentrations were significantly higher in 41 primigravid patients with proteinuric pre-eclampsia compared with those in 41 primigravid normotensive women matched for age and gestation. beta-hCG was also measured in serial serum samples obtained from 13 women who had a high weight-gain between 20 and 30 weeks of pregnancy. Seven of these pregnancies were subsequently complicated with pre-eclampsia while the remaining six continued to be normotensive; beta-hCG levels were found to rise before the clinical signs of pre-eclampsia appeared.

An osteogenic sarcoma occurring in a 22-year-old woman was found to be associated with production of a large amount of beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (B-hCG). Pregnancy was excluded on the basis of a normal ultrasonogram and a proliferative type endometrium obtained by curettage. A homogenate of the tumor was strongly positive for B-hCG while immunohistochemical staining of the tumor cells was strongly positive for B-hCG and negative for pregnancy associated glycoprotein. These results indicate ectopic production of hCG by the osteosarcoma.

It has become an established practice in some specialised centres for patients with Stage I non-seminomatous germ-cell tumours of the testis to be kept under close surveillance following orchidectomy. We report a patient with testicular teratoma treated with orchidectomy alone who, during the period of close observation, developed Hodgkin's disease. The patient, a 20-year-old man, had an inguinal orchidectomy for left testicular enlargement which was histologically a malignant teratoma, undifferentiated. Initial chest radiography, lymphography and computed tomography (CT) of the chest and abdomen were normal. Serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (BHCG) were undetectable.

Beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta HCG) was measured in 127 urine and 85 serum samples from 175 untreated patients with urothelial cancer. Serum levels of beta HCG were substantially elevated in 16 of 21 patients (76%) with widespread metastases but in only 2 of 64 patients (3%) with disease confined to the pelvis. Urine beta HCG levels were moderately raised in 11 of 25 patients (44%) with locally advanced disease, but greatly elevated in 5 of 7 patients (71%) with metastases. Measurement of serum and/or urine beta HCG appears to be an efficient diagnostic marker for the presence of distant metastases in bladder carcinoma.

The serum expression of the tumour markers hydroxybutyric dehydrogenase (HBD), beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta HCG), alphafetoprotein (alpha FP) and placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) has been assessed in a consecutive series of 50 patients with pure seminoma. In pre-orchiectomy sera from 15 patients with stage I disease, HBD was elevated in 5, beta HCG in 3, alpha FP in 1 and PLAP in 1 (of 3 only). In 27 patients with stage 2 or 3 disease, prior to chemotherapy, serum HBD was elevated in 19, beta HCG in 11, alpha FP in 2 and PLAP in 10 (of 18). The presence of beta HCG was investigated immunocytochemically in primary tumour tissue from 39 patients. It was demonstrated in 6 of 21 tumours from patients with stage I disease and 5 of 18 with stage 2 or 3 disease.

A two year old boy presented with precocious puberty associated with hepatoblastoma. Serum concentrations of beta human chorionic gonadotrophin and alpha-fetoprotein were raised. An aggressive chemotherapeutic regimen resulted in useful palliation and interesting changes in the beta human chorionic gonadotrophin and alpha-fetoprotein concentrations. In contrast to a previous report, the ultrastructure of the tumour showed frequent Golgi apparatus but no other electron dense membrane bound vesicles.