Plasma 5'-nucleotidase activities increase in women with hyperemesis gravidarum.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate plasma activities of 5'-nucleotidase, a key enzyme in the production of adenosine and evaluate the relationship between changes in 5'-nucleotidase activities and pregnancy-related hormones, estrogen, progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in women with hyperemesis gravidarum.


METHODS
Plasma 5'-nucleotidase activities and estradiol, progesterone and hCG levels were measured in 21 women with hyperemesis gravidarum and normal pregnancies, matched for age, parity and gestational week.


RESULTS
In women with hyperemesis gravidarum, plasma 5'-nucleotidase activities averaged 8.1 +/- 0.6 IU/L, which were significantly increased compared to those in normal pregnant women (5.5 +/- 0.5 IU/L)(p < 0.05). The increases in plasma 5'-nucleotidase activities were accompanied by elevations of plasma estradiol, progesterone and hCG levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The increase of plasma 5'-nucleotidase activities may be at least partly attributed to elevations of pregnancy-related hormones, suggesting changes in purine metabolism in women with hyperemesis gravidarum.
Yoneyama
Yoshio
Y
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan. yoshi_1@nms.ac.jp
Kobayashi
Hajime
H
Kato
Makiko
M
Chihara
Hiromitsu
H
Yamada
Takashi
T
Otsubo
Yasuo
Y
Araki
Tsutomu
T
D015720:5'-Nucleotidase / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006939:Hyperemesis Gravidarum / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D015720:5'-Nucleotidase