Pregnancy-associated plasma protein levels at term in normal pregnancy, preeclampsia and essential hypertension.
The levels of protein associated with pregnancy (placental specific beta 1 glycoprotein, SP1, and pregnancy associated -alpha 2- globulin, alpha 2-PAG), immune function (complement, C3c) and inflammation (ceruloplasmin, C), were studied at term in groups of patients with normal and complicated primigravid and multigravid pregnancy. The levels of SP1 and C3c were similar in all the groups studied. In patients matched for parity, the levels of alpha 2-PAG were significantly lower than normal in preeclamptic primigravidas and in multigravidas with a history of preeclampsia in their first pregnancy. Ceruloplasmin levels were significantly elevated in preeclampsia patients and in patients with essential hypertension. It is suggested that reduced plasma alpha 2-PAG may be of prognostic value and have a role in the aetiology of preeclampsia whereas increased ceruloplasmin levels may be no more than an acute phase reactant resulting from pathological changes due to hypertension.
D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000032:analysis; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000097:blood*; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
D003176:Complement C3; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D002570:Ceruloplasmin