[Radioimmunoassay of HCG and HCG beta in blood during pregnancy and trophoblastomas].

This work was carried out on 151 estimations of the radioimmune levels of hCG-hCG beta in the first half of normal pregnancy and 390 levels estimated in 10 molar pregnancies, in 4 choriocarcinomata following moles and 1 primary choriocarcinoma of the ovary using homologous hCG beta. In normal pregnancy the level of hCG-hCG beta rises rapidly. The levels are highest between the 8th and 9th weeks of pregnancy, and then gradually decrease. In active molar pregnancies the levels of hCG-hCG beta in the plasma are significantly higher than those found in normal pregnancies of the same gestational age. When the outcome is going to be favourable the levels drop progressively. Complete absence in peripheral blood is usually found about 14 weeks after a mole has been expelled or evacuated. In choriocarcinomata, if the level of hCG-hCG beta rises it is a certain sign of reactivation of the tumour.