*** Welcome to piglix ***

Human chorionic gonadotropin

Chorionic gonadotropin,
alpha polypeptide
HCG structure.png
Identifiers
Symbol CGA
Alt. symbols FSHA, GPHa, GPHA1, HCG, LHA, TSHA
Entrez 1081
HUGO 1885
OMIM 118850
RefSeq NM_000735
UniProt P01215
Other data
Locus Chr. 6 q14-q21
chorionic gonadotropin,
beta polypeptide
Identifiers
Symbol CGB
Alt. symbols CGB3
Entrez 1082
HUGO 1886
OMIM 118860
RefSeq NM_000737
UniProt P01233
Other data
Locus Chr. 19 q13.3
Human chorionic gonadotropin
Clinical data
Trade names Novarel, Pregnyl
AHFS/Drugs.com Monograph
ATC code G03GA08 (WHO)
Identifiers
CAS Number 9002-61-3 YesY
DrugBank DB00097 N
ChemSpider none
ECHA InfoCard 100.029.679
Chemical and physical data
Formula C1105H1770N318O336S26
Molar mass 25719.70
 NYesY (what is this?)

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone produced by the placenta after implantation. The presence of hCG is detected in some pregnancy tests (HCG pregnancy strip tests). Some cancerous tumors produce this hormone; therefore, elevated levels measured when the patient is not pregnant can lead to a cancer diagnosis and, if high enough, paraneoplastic syndromes. However, it is not known whether this production is a contributing cause or an effect of carcinogenesis. The pituitary analog of hCG, known as luteinizing hormone (LH), is produced in the pituitary gland of males and females of all ages.

Regarding endogenous forms of hCG, there are various ways to categorize and measure them, including total hCG, C-terminal peptide total hCG, intact hCG, free β-subunit hCG, β-core fragment hCG, hyperglycosylated hCG, nicked hCG, alpha hCG, and pituitary hCG. Regarding pharmaceutical preparations of hCG from animal or synthetic sources, there are many gonadotropin preparations, some of which are medically justified and others of which are of a quack nature. As of December 6, 2011, the United States Food and Drug Administration has prohibited the sale of "homeopathic" and over-the-counter hCG diet products and declared them fraudulent and illegal.


...
Wikipedia

...