Abuaisha B, Barrett E, O'Hare J
Department of Medicine, Limerick Regional Hospital, Dooradoyle.
Ir J Med Sci. 1991 Mar;160(3):96-7. doi: 10.1007/BF02947265.
We describe a case of frank clinical hyperthyroidism due to hydatidiform mole. This is thought to be due to human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) or a closely related molecule produced by the tumour. hCG can cross-react with TSH in older TSH radioimmunoassays causing falsely elevated TSH levels. We demonstrate this does not occur with a chemiluminescent immunometric (monoclonal) TSH assay despite circulating hCG levels greater than 10(6) u/L.