Hormonal measurements in patients with theca lutein cysts and gestational trophoblastic disease

Concentrations of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), human placental lactogen (HPL), prolactin (PRL), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) were measured in serum and fluid from ovarian theca lutein cysts (TC) in patients with gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). Either intact hydatidiform mole (HM) or persistent GTD was present. The values were compared to serum hormone concentrations in ten GTD patients whose ovaries were not enlarged. In the presence of intact HM and TC, significant elevations in the mean serum concentration of HCG, PRL, P and E2 were observed when compared to levels in GTD patients with normal-sized ovaries (P less than .01). Serum FSH and HPL were not elevated in either control or TC patients. The mean concentration of P in cyst fluid from patients with intact HM was higher than that in patients with persistent GTD (P less than .05). From both groups of GTD patients with TC, the mean concentrations of P in cyst fluid were higher than those in the sera. These findings suggest that besides the markedly elevated HCG levels generally seen in TC patients, other hormones, such as P, PRL and E2 are elevated and may be involved in the formation and/or maintenance of TC.