Neuroendocrine regulation of anterior pituitary function in patients during and after molar pregnancy

Only partial studies evaluating the endocrine profile in molar pregnancy have been performed. In order to characterize the neuro-endocrine pattern during and after molar pregnancy, we studied the basal hormonal levels of hCG, human placental lactogen (hPL), FSH, GH, TSH, free thyroxine index (FTI), oestradiol-17 beta (E2), and progesterone (PG), as well as the anterior pituitary response to TRH, GnRH, and hypoglycaemia induced by insulin in 7 patients during molar pregnancy and one week after molar abortion. hCG showed significantly higher serum levels during rather than after molar pregnancy and hPL was detectable in only 4 patients during, but in none after molar pregnancy. FSH values were in the follicular phase range before and after molar abortion (12.7 +/- 0.8 and 12.7 +/- 3.5 IU/l). PRL had elevated basal levels before and after molar abortion; 103.0 +/- 16.5 and 43 +/- 10.6 micrograms/l, respectively (P less than 0.05). GH levels were distinctly elevated in 3 patients during molar pregnancy; after molar abortion, the basal GH values were normal in all patients less than 10 micrograms/l. Basal cortisol and TSH levels were in the normal range before and after molar abortion. The FTI was above the normal range in 3 patients during molar pregnancy, whereas after molar abortion the values were normalized. E2 levels were elevated before and after molar abortion, 1881 +/- 477 and 96.5 +/- 39.2 ng/l, respectively (P less than 0.01). PG levels before and after molar abortion were 30.9 +/- 5.4 and 10 +/- 6.7 micrograms/l, respectively (P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)