title: Plasma 5'-nucleotidase activities increase in women with hyperemesis gravidarum.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan. yoshi_1@nms.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoneyama
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Hiromitsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chihara
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Otsubo
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Araki
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D015720:5'-Nucleotidase