Correlation levels of serum placental growth factor and human chorionic gonadotropin in gestational trophoblastic disease patients.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the correlation between serum placental growth factor (PlGF) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in patients with gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) and to compare serum levels of PlGF in patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia to those of patients with hydatidiform mole.

STUDY

DESIGN

Blood and urine samples were collected from GTD patients. Blood and urine levels for PlGF were processed and quantitated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in parallel with serum levels for hCG. Correlation levels of serum PlGF and hCG were analyzed. Serum levels of PlGF and hCG were correlated with the clinical manifestations of GTD.

RESULTS

The correlation between serum levels of PlGF and hCG was not linear (r = 0.274, p = 0.229). The median PlGF levels in benign and malignant groups were 24.0 and 38.3 pg/mL, respectively (p = 0.014). The median serum hCG levels in benign and malignant groups were 7,335.0 and 9,974.5 mlU/mL, respectively (p = 0.942). The linear correlation between urine and serum levels for PlGF was not detected (r = 0.064).

CONCLUSION

Levels of correlation for serum PlGF and hCG in GTD patients were not linear. Median serum levels of PlGF between benign and malignant groups were significantly different. This suggests that there is a higher production of PlGF levels in patients with choriocarcinoma or malignant GTD.