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Does tumor-derived human chorionic gonadotropin act as a thyroid stimulator in vivo?
S Madersbacher1, S Schwarz, K Mann
1Institute for Biomedical Aging Research, Innsbruck.
Clinical Chemistry
|February 1, 1993
Summary
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) does not stimulate thyroid function in vivo. This study found no correlation between high hCG levels and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) or free thyroxine (fT4) in testicular cancer patients.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Reproductive Medicine
Background:
- Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone produced during pregnancy and by certain tumors.
- There has been speculation about hCG possessing intrinsic thyroid-stimulating activity (TSA).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vivo thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) activity of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal monitoring of thyroid status in eight patients with hCG-producing non-seminomatous testicular cancer over 0.5-1 year.
- Serum analysis for hCG, free thyroxine (fT4), TSH, and thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG).
- Cross-sectional analysis of 82 samples from all patients.
Main Results:
- Excessively high hCG concentrations (10^5-5x10^8 ng/L) were observed in patients before chemotherapy.
- No significant changes or correlations were found between hCG concentrations and fT4 or TSH levels.
- Thyroid function (fT4 and TSH) remained within physiological ranges even at peak hCG levels (>5x10^7 ng/L).
Conclusions:
- Testicular tumor-derived hCG does not exhibit TSH-like activity in vivo.
- High hCG levels do not cause hyperthyroidism or alter thyroid hormone levels.