Comparison of prolidase enzyme activities of maternal serum and placental tissue in patients with early pregnancy failure.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the maternal serum and placental tissue levels of prolidase enzyme activity in women with early pregnancy loss (EPL) with those of women who underwent elective dilatation and curettage (D&C).


METHODS
Serum and placental tissue samples from 52 women with early pregnancy loss (study group) and 49 women who underwent elective D&C (control group) were collected. Criteria for inclusion in the study group were based on evidence of vaginal bleeding, transvaginal ultrasonography results, and clinical findings. Prolidase enzyme activity was determined using a photometric method.


RESULTS
Serum levels of prolidase activity were lower in the early pregnancy loss group than in the control group (p < 0.001). However, placental tissue activity levels were significantly higher among women with an EPL than among women without an EPL (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Results from this study demonstrate an inverse relationship of serum and placental levels of prolidase activity. Placental utilization of the prolidase enzyme may explain the low serum levels. As prolidase is a marker of collagen turnover, we conclude that collagen turnover is increased in patients with early pregnancy loss and may be an etiopathological factor of this disease.
Vural
Mehmet
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Harran University, Morfoloji Binasi, Kat 3, Yenisehir, 63300 Sanliurfa, Turkey. drmvural@yahoo.com
Toy
Harun
H
Camuzcuoglu
Hakan
H
Aksoy
Nurten
N
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D004107:Dilatation and Curettage; D004150:Dipeptidases / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
D003094:Collagen; D004150:Dipeptidases; C022449:proline dipeptidase