Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38025990›Full record

ArticlePractical laboratory medicine2023

Total human chorionic gonadotropin is a more suitable diagnostic marker of gestational trophoblastic diseases than the free β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin.

Hirokazu Usui, Atsuko Mikiya, Eri Katayama, Natsuko Nakamura, Asuka Sato, Hideo Matsui, Makio Shozu, Kaori Koga

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Practical laboratory medicine, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment of Hydatidiform Mole.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Hirokazu UsuiDepartment of Reproductive Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
Atsuko MikiyaDepartment of Gynecology, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
Eri KatayamaDepartment of Gynecology, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
Natsuko NakamuraDepartment of Gynecology, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
Asuka SatoDepartment of Gynecology, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
Hideo MatsuiDepartment of Reproductive Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
Makio ShozuDepartment of Reproductive Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
Kaori KogaDepartment of Reproductive Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives: Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels are essential for the management of trophoblastic diseases. This study aimed to compare the sensitivities and relationships of two hCG measurement methods (total hCG and the free β-subunit of hCG) in managing gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). Design and Methods: We analyzed data from patients treated for GTD at Chiba University Hospital between 2008 and 2019. We focused on cases where both total hCG (mIU/mL) and the free β-subunit of hCG (ng/mL) were measured on the same day. Results: Out of 80 patients (mean age 38.9 ± 11.7 years) and 158 measurements, 26 had values below the sensitivity threshold for both tests. Fifty-nine measurements were positive for total hCG but below the sensitivity threshold for the free β-subunit of hCG, whereas only two showed the opposite. Seventy-one measurements were positive for both total hCG and the free β-subunit of hCG. There was a significant correlation between total hCG and the free β-subunit of hCG with both positive values, (r = 0.94, p < 0.001; Spearman's correlation test). Of the 85 measurements with undetectable free β-subunit levels, 26 also had undetectable total hCG levels. However, total hCG was detectable in 59 patients from these cases, with a median value (interquartile range) of 2.9 (1.75-4.9) mIU/mL. Conclusions: In the management of GTD, the use of the free β-subunit system alone cannot be recommended.

Indexed as

ChoriocarcinomaFree β-subunitGestational trophoblastic diseaseHuman chorionic gonadotropinHydatidiform mole

Identifiers

PMID38025990
PMCPMC10661586

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.