Schwangerschaftsprotein 1 (SP1) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with gestational trophoblastic disease

Abstract

The β subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin (β-hCG) and Schwangerschaftsprotein 1 (SP1) were measured by radioimmunoassay in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 46 postmolar and postpartum patients who developed gestational trophoblastic disease. There was a significant correlation between β-hCG and SP1 serum levels. The mean serum SP1 level in high-risk patients was significantly higher than that in low-risk patients. There was a significant correlation between serum and CSF β-hCG levels. The ratio of serum to CSF β-hCG levels was low in the 3 patients with clinical evidence of intracranial metastasis. SP1 was present in the CSF of only one of these 3 patients, but it could be detected in the CSF of another 4 patients without clinical evidence of metastases in the central nervous system. The 2 low-risk patients with SP1 present in the CSF showed poor response to intramuscular methotrexate.