title: Quantitative analysis of a novel pregnancy-associated protein in trophoblastic diseases, normal pregnancy and healthy female subjects.
abstract: By means of the Laurell rocket technique, a novel pregnancy-associated protein was measured in the serum of patients with trophoblastic diseases as well as in pregnant women. In 52 normally-menstruating women, the serum levels were below the detection limit in 40 (76.9%); 50 women (96.2%) had levels of less than 2.0 U/ml, and none had levels above 2.1 U/ml. Of 25 patients with a hydatidiform mole, 23 (92.0%) had elevated levels (greater than 2.2 U/ml). In 84 healthy pregnant women, the levels rose from being undetectable before 5 weeks to a plateau in the second trimester. The results suggest that the appearance of this protein in serum is associated with trophoblastic activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakai
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Atsumi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Odagiri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arai
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D014328:Trophoblastic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins