Placental function test, clinical and biochemical parameters in diabetic pregnancy complicated by retinopathy.

The pregnancy in specific-beta 1-glycoprotein (SP1) has been characterized as a beta 1 electrophoretic mobile glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 90,000 daltons. SP1 is known to be synthesized by the trophoblast. The measurement of this protein has been shown to be useful as a placental function test. At present, we have compared maternal SP1 serum levels in diabetic pregnancies between White classes A to D on the one hand and R, F on the other. A total of 37 uncomplicated pregnancies in healthy women and 32 of insulin-dependent pregnant diabetic women were examined between completed gestational weeks 8 and 41. In the diabetic group there were eleven women with diabetic retinopathy. Maternal SP1 serum levels were estimated by single radial immunodiffusion using a monospecific antiserum. In the results were integrated maternal and neonatal data such as glycemic control, glycosylated hemoglobin and insulin requirements. In each group there was a significant rise in maternal SP1 serum values in the second and the third trimester, when compared with values in the first trimester (p less than 0.01). Between the 34th and the 37th gestational week we found significantly lower SP1 values (p less than 0.05) in the retinopathic group (104.2 +/- 28.7 mg/l) in comparison with the control group (149.9 +/- 61.0 mg/l) and non-retinopathic group (139.1 +/- 41.7 mg/l).