Abstract
Human chorionic gonadotropin bears structural homology to pituitary thyrotropin. The
extremely elevated levels of human chorionic gonadotropin in patients with molar pregnancy
or other trophoblastic diseases can lead to hyperthyroidism. We describe a patient
with molar pregnancy who had secondary hyperthyroidism prepared rapidly by plasmapheresis
for surgery. The clinical picture improved dramatically after the first plasmapheresis.
Three subsequent plasmapheresis provided a 75.1% decrease in serum free T3 concentrations
and 63.9% free T4 concentrations and recovery after evacuation. This is the first
use of plasmapheresis in rapid preparation of a patient who had secondary hyperthyroidism
due to molar pregnancy.
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
May 26,
2006
Received:
April 6,
2006
Identification
Copyright
© 2006 Published by Elsevier Inc.
