False positive hCG testing and upper urinary tract infection.

IF 1.1 Q4 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation Pub Date : 2025-03-03 DOI:10.1515/hmbci-2024-0080

Joris R Delanghe, Valerie Pede, Sylvie Mulliez, Hilde Vanpoucke, Marijn M Speeckaert, Danielle Vandenweghe, Kris Gevaert

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives: Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) assays are commonly used as a pregnancy test. False-positive human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) values in urine were reported in 15 patients (nine males and six females) presenting with urinary tract infection.

Methods: Extopic hCG production and presence of heterophilic antibodies were excluded as potential causes of interference.

Results: Orbitrap mass spectrometry revealed the presence of uromodulin, an abundant urinary glycoprotein, as the likely cause of the interference. Falsely elevated hCG values correlated well with urinary alpha 1 microglobulin (a tubular protein) concentrations and with the urinary leukocyte count. The false positive hCG signal disappeared after antibiotic administration.

Conclusions: These data suggest that false-positive hCG test results in urine may occur in patients presenting with upper urinary tract infections due to uromodulin interference.

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hCG假阳性和上尿路感染。

目的：人绒毛膜促性腺激素（hCG）测定是常用的妊娠试验。尿中人绒毛膜促性腺激素（hCG）值假阳性报告15例患者（9男6女）表现为尿路感染。方法：排除外源性hCG的产生和嗜异性抗体的存在作为潜在的干扰原因。结果：Orbitrap质谱分析显示尿调蛋白（一种丰富的尿糖蛋白）可能是引起干扰的原因。虚升高的hCG值与尿α 1微球蛋白（一种管状蛋白）浓度和尿白细胞计数密切相关。假阳性hCG信号在抗生素治疗后消失。结论：这些数据表明尿hCG检测结果假阳性可能发生在尿调素干扰引起的上尿路感染患者中。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY-

CiteScore

2.60

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation (HMBCI) is dedicated to the provision of basic data on molecular aspects of hormones in physiology and pathophysiology. The journal covers the treatment of major diseases, such as endocrine cancers (breast, prostate, endometrium, ovary), renal and lymphoid carcinoma, hypertension, cardiovascular systems, osteoporosis, hormone deficiency in menopause and andropause, obesity, diabetes, brain and related diseases, metabolic syndrome, sexual dysfunction, fetal and pregnancy diseases, as well as the treatment of dysfunctions and deficiencies. HMBCI covers new data on the different steps and factors involved in the mechanism of hormone action. It will equally examine the relation of hormones with the immune system and its environment, as well as new developments in hormone measurements. HMBCI is a blind peer reviewed journal and publishes in English: Original articles, Reviews, Mini Reviews, Short Communications, Case Reports, Letters to the Editor and Opinion papers. Ahead-of-print publishing ensures faster processing of fully proof-read, DOI-citable articles.