Urinary β-HCG in benign and malignant urinary tract diseases

Detectable levels of HCG have been reported in conditions other than normal pregnancy, including threatened abortion, ectopic pregnancy, trophoblastic tumors, carcinomas of the stomach, liver, pancreas and breast as well as multiple myeloma and melanoma. The present study was conducted to estimate urinary beta-HCG in bladder cancer and benign urinary tract disorders. 163 individuals were included, 68 with bladder cancer (60 males and 8 females), 64 with benign urinary tract diseases (55 males and 9 females) and 31 normal healthy controls (26 males and 5 females). Urinary beta-HCG was estimated by the ELISA technique using the reagents supplied by DRG International Inc., Germany. Results of the study revealed an overexpression of beta-HCG in malignant and benign urinary tract diseases. 60.3% of the cancer patients and 29.7% of patients with benign diseases showed urinary beta-HCG values above the upper limit of the control group (2mIU/ml).