THE EXCRETION OF HORMONES IN CASES OF HYDATIDIFORM MOLE AND CHORIONEPITHELIOMA

Abstract

ABSTRACT The urinary excretion of gonadotrophin, oestrogens and pregnanediol has been estimated in ten patients with hydatidiform mole and in three female patients with chorionepithelioma. In all 13 cases an incieased excretion of gonadotrophin was found. The excretion of pregnanediol (investigated in seven patients only) was of the same magnitude as in nonpregnant women except in one case, where a slightly increased excretion was found. The excretion of oestrogens was low; one case of mole and two of chorionepithelioma excreted amounts at the non-pregnant level, whereas most of the remainders excreted amounts much lower than in normal pregnancies of a corresponding gestational length. Two patients, however, excreted amounts comparable to those of a normal pregnancy. As the ratio oestriol: oestrone + oestradiol was at the non-pregnant level, the oestrogens excreted by patients with hydatidiform mole and chorionepithelioma are assumed to have been produced by the ovaries of the woman strongly stimulated by the enormous amounts of gonadotrophin present.