Monitoring therapy in trophoblastic diseases by radioimmunoassay of pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoprotein and the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin.

The beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoprotein (SP1) were measured simultaneously by specific radioimmunoassays in 473 serum samples from 43 patients with trophoblastic tumors. Both SP1 and hCG values were high in 16 untreated patients. 27 patients had been treated previously elsewhere, and their further treatment and monitoring were started simultaneously in our institute. Raised SP2 and hCG levels were found in 22 and 21 cases, respectively. Treatment was followed by a parallel decrease of both SP1 and hCG, but the hCG decline was more marked. Seronegativity was reached only after several months; SP1 was present in the serum for 60-150 days, and hCG could be found even after this time. Both parameters were sensitive indicators of residual tumor activity, calling for further therapy months before any clinical manifestation of recurrence. In three cases only one of the tumor makers could be found, which underlines the importance of the simultaneous measurement of hCG and SP1.

[Haptoglobin subtypes in paternity cases]. / Haptoglobin szubtípusok vizsgálata származásmegállapítási ügyekben.

A brief review of theoretical and practical problems of the identification of haptoglobins (Hp) is given. Examination of Hp-subtypes was carried out in 335 cases of discussed paternity using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. According to the results of the examination of the sera of 285 adults (included into the above mentioned group) the gen frequency appeared to be as follows: when the frequency of the gen Hp1 = 0.346, the value of the frequency of Hp1F = 0.115 and Hp1S = 0.231. Thus the maximal (theoretical) chance of the exclusion of the paternity have been found 26.24%. Two cases are reported. In one of them determination of the Hp-subtypes resulted in exclusion of the discussed paternity.