Adenosine deaminase activity in serum and placenta of patients with anembryonic pregnancies and missed abortions.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to assess adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in the serum and placenta of patients with missed abortions, anembryonic pregnancies, and voluntary abortions.


METHODS
Nine cases of anembryonic pregnancies and 21 cases of missed abortions (group I, n=30), and voluntary dilatation and curettage cases (group II, n=30) were included in this prospective study. Adenosine deaminase activity in serum and placental tissue was measured according to the Giusti method. The t-test was applied for statistical evaluation with the help of SPSS 9.0.


RESULTS
The mean serum ADA level in the abortion cases (group I) was 9.13+/-1.59 U/l, while it was 17.06+/-6.5 U/l in the control group (group II; p<0.05). Also, the mean placental ADA levels in abortion cases and in the control group were 11.8+/-4.7 nmol/mg protein/min and 25.8+/-6.6 nmol/mg protein/min respectively (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that ADA may have a modulatory role in the implantation and duration of pregnancy. Low levels of ADA in early pregnancy may lead to an accumulation of products toxic to DNA and to the subsequent loss of the pregnancy.
Kutlar
Irfan
I
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sahinbey Medical Center, Gaziantep University, Milli Egemenlik Bulvari 32/6, 27060, Gaziantep, Turkey. irfankutlar@hotmail.com
Aksoy
Fuat
F
Koyluoglu
Oya
O
Ugur
Mete Gurol
MG
Balat
Ozcan
O
Tarakcioglu
Mehmet
M
D000030:Abortion, Missed / Q000201:enzymology*; D000243:Adenosine Deaminase / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000201:enzymology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000243:Adenosine Deaminase