Gonadotropin, Chorionic and ProQuad

• Generic Name: chorionic gonadotropin (hcg)
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Novarel, Ovidrel, Pregnyl, APL, Profasi, Chorex, Gonic, Hcg, Chorigon, Choron-10

Management of prepubertal cryptorchidism not caused by anatomical obstruction.

Induction of testicular descent usually only temporary; response may be permanent in some patients.

Differential diagnosis (hCG stimulatory test) of cryptorchidism in prepubertal boys to predict whether subsequent orchidopexy will be required. In general, hCG is thought to induce testicular descent in patients in whom descent would have occurred at puberty.

Start corrective therapy for cryptorchidism before pubescence to prevent irreparable testicular damage; opinions differ regarding optimum age for treatment. Manufacturers recommend instituting u-hCG therapy for prepubertal cryptorchidism in boys 4–9 years of age.

Management of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism resulting from pituitary deficiency.

Stimulation of spermatogenesis in males with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism secondary to pituitary deficiency. Full response may require concurrent FSH or menotropins therapy.

Used in conjunction with follicle-stimulating agent(s) (e.g., menotropins as fixed-combination preparations or separate components, FSH) to induce ovulation in anovulatory, infertile women in whom anovulation is secondary (e.g., pituitary insufficiency).

Should not be used in infertile women in whom anovulation is due to primary ovarian failure.

Has been used for the treatment of infertility resulting from deficiency of corpus luteum during luteal phase of menstrual cycle.

Manufacturer states that u-hCG has not been shown to be effective as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of obesity.

• Generic Name: measles virus vaccine / mumps virus vaccine / rubella virus vaccine / varicella virus vaccine
• Dosage Forms: injection, powder, lyophilized, for suspension
• Other Brand Names: ProQuad

ProQuad is a measles, mumps, rubella and varicella virus vaccine. Measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella are serious diseases caused by viruses spread from person to person through the air or by skin to skin contact.

Measles virus can cause minor symptoms such as skin rash, cough, runny nose, eye irritation, or mild fever. It can also cause more serious symptoms such as ear infection, pneumonia, seizures, permanent brain damage, or death.

Mumps virus causes fever, headache, muscle aches, and swollen glands. More more serious symptoms include hearing loss, painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries, swelling around the brain or spinal cord, or (rarely) death.

Rubella virus (also called German Measles) causes skin rash, fever, sore throat, headache, eye irritation, and joint pain. Becoming infected with rubella during pregnancy can result in a miscarriage or serious birth defects.

Varicella (chickenpox) can cause fever, tiredness, headache, loss of appetite, and a breakout of fluid-filled blisters on the skin. Chickenpox is usually mild, but it can lead to severe skin infection, breathing problems, brain damage, or death. A person who has had chickenpox can develop herpes zoster (also called shingles) later in life, which causes severe nerve pain, and hearing or vision problems, which may last for months or years.

The ProQuad vaccine is used to help prevent these diseases in children. This vaccine works by exposing your child to a small dose of the virus or a protein from the virus, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. ProQuad will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.

ProQuad vaccine is for use in children between the ages of 12 months and 12 years old.

Like any vaccine, ProQuad vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every person.