SUMMARY
In a case of hydatidiform mole accompanied by theca lutein cysts there was a greatly increased urinary excretion of pregnanetriol. Incubation of the mole tissue with [4-14C]pregnenolone resulted in the formation of 17α-hydroxypregnenolone, progesterone, 16α-hydroxyprogesterone and 16βhydroxyprogesterone.
Cholesterol, pregnenolone, 17α-hydroxypregnenolone, pregnanediol, pregnanetriol and androstenedione were isolated from both the mole tissue itself and from the ovarian cyst fluid. Progesterone and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone were characterized only from the cyst fluid. Greater quantities of the metabolic intermediates between pregnenolone and pregnanetriol were isolated from the cyst fluid than from the mole tissue.
On the basis of these results it is concluded that although the mole tissue is active in steroid metabolism the increased urinary excretion of pregnanetriol is a function of the polycystic ovaries.
Prognostic value of CA 125 in ovarian cyst fluid of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer