title: Tubular proteins and enzyme content in the amniotic fluid.
abstract: Amniotic fluid is the product of many substances and fetal urine is considered to be one of the principal components. Only a few reports have been published describing the concentration of microglobulins and urinary enzymes in the amniotic fluid. We determined the levels of alpha 1-m, beta 2-m, AAP and NAG, in 154 samples of amniotic fluid (103 early determinations and 51 late determinations) as a function of gestational age. We observed a statistically significant decrease in concentration of alpha 1-m (P < 0.001), beta 2-m (P < 0.01) and AAP (P < 0.001) when early and late amniotic fluid samples were compared. A statistically significant increase of NAG (P < 0.01) and creatinine (P < 0.01) was also found. A significant correlation was observed between alpha 1-m and beta 2-m, and between AAP and NAG, respectively. The potential role of urinary enzyme and microglobulin determination in amniotic fluid as an index of fetal kidney development, is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Pediatrica, Università di Verona, Ospedale Policlinico Borgo, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Padovani
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fanos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mussap
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plebani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burlina
mesh_terms: D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000510:Alpha-Globulins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000649:Amniocentesis; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018826:CD13 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000510:Alpha-Globulins; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; C016001:alpha-1-microglobulin; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase; D018826:CD13 Antigens