Clinical significance of pregnancy-specific beta glycoprotein, human placental lactogen and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin in the serum of patients with trophoblastic diseases

Serum levels of pregnancy specific beta 1 glycoprotein (SP1), human placental lactogen (hPL) and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) in the normal men, non-pregnant women, normal pregnant women and patients with trophoblastic diseases were determined by radioimmunoassay. Serum SP1, hPL and beta-hCG levels in patients with trophoblastic diseases decreased with advance of the degree of malignancy. The SP1/beta-hCG ratio was less than 1.5 in 4/36(11.1%) of the cases of hydatidiform mole, 13/16 (81.2%) of the cases of invasive mole and choriocarcinoma. The beta-hCG/hPL ratios were below 15 in 30/36 (83.3%) of the cases of hydatidiform mole and 4/16(25.5%) of the cases of malignant trophoblastic disease. After operation and chemotherapy, patients with SP1 and beta-hCG levels decreased gradually achieved favourable prognosis. Thus, this may be used as an index for monitoring and follow-up studies of trophoblastic disease.