HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) is the hormone that is produced during pregnancy by the trophoblast cells (the cells that develop into the placenta). In a molar pregnancy, this value is abnormally high. After any kind of miscarriage, this value is monitored to ensure that it falls back down to negative. This process takes awhile, especially as it nears zero.
Normal Values
HCG Qualitative urine test: Negative (Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay - this is the home pregnancy test I took; it is the least sensitive test of all of these because it simply looks for the presence of the HCG)
HCG Quantitative blood test: <5.0 IU/L (Electrochemiluminescent Immunoassay - this is the test I was given prior to starting chemo; it's a general pregnancy test that is sensitive enough to detect the amount of HCG, but it only detects down so far; this is also used when tracking ectopic pregnancies)
Beta-Subunit HCG blood test: <=2.3 IU/L (Immunoenzymatic Assay - this is the test I was given post chemo because it has more sensitive detection of HCG; it's used to monitor Gestational Trophoblastic Disease)
ROUND 1 - Complete Molar Pregnancy
July
7/30/2010: Positive HPT
August
8/11/2010: 9,451 - unsure if ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage
8/13/2010: 20,161
8/18/2010: 50,281 - miscarriage diagnosis
September
9/16/2010: 270,241 - molar pregnancy (gestational trophoblastic disease) diagnosis, before D&C
9/17/2010: 231,350 - complete molar pregnancy diagnosis, hours after D&C
9/23/2010: 15,052
9/30/2010: 20,145
October
10/5/2010: 38,534 - invasive mole (gestational trophoblastic neoplasia) diagnosis, begin chemo round 1
10/19/2010: 2,421 - begin chemo round 2
November
11/4/2010: 119 - begin chemo round 3
11/18/2010: 20 - begin chemo round 4
December
12/2/2010: 8.9 - begin chemo round 5
12/16/2010: 2.0 - begin chemo round 6
12/31/2010: 1.3 - determined that 12/16 would be considered 1st negative result
January
1/7/2011: 0.9 - begin weekly follow-up monitoring
1/14/2011: 0.7
1/22/2011: 0.6
1/28/2011: <0.5
February
2/11/2011: <0.5 - begin bi-weekly follow-up monitoring
2/25/2011: 0.6
March
3/26/2011: <0.5 - begin monthly follow-up monitoring
April
4/25/2011: 0.5
May
5/25/2011: <2.0
June
6/24/2011: <2.0
July
7/29/2011: <2.0
August
8/30/2011: <0.5
October
10/3/2011: <0.5
10/28/2011: <0.5
November
11/18/2011: <0.5
ROUND 2 - Ectopic Pregnancy
February
2/19/2012: Positive HPT
2/23/2012: 911 - first blood draw after 3 days of spotting
2/25/2012: 1373 - unsure if ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage
2/28/2012: 2447 - ultrasound clean, still unsure if ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage
March
3/1/2012: 2965 - still unsure if ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage
3/5/2012: 4376 - ultrasound confirms ectopic pregnancy in left fallopian tube, no fetal pole/heartbeat, 2.1 cm,
first shot of methotrexate
3/8/2012: 5940(?) - sample compromised due to specimen age, redraw requested
3/9/2012: no result reported, unsure where sample went
3/11/2012: 5392 - second shot of methotrexate
3/14/2012: 3482 - 36% drop, need one more confirmation draw
3/17/2012: 2312 - 34% drop, begin weekly draws until levels are negative again
3/23/2012: 952
3/30/2012: 470
April
4/6/2012: 330
4/18/2012: 2.1
