[Fluctuations in pregnancy-associated protein A (PAPP-A) levels in the sera of pregnant women].

Pregnant serum PAPP-A, SP1 and HPL concentration were measured in 188 normal pregnant sera, 43 pathological sera by Laurell's method for PAPP-A and HPL, by SRID method for SP1. PAPP-A was detected from about 10 weeks of gestational age. Throughout the pregnancy, PAPP-A concentration correlated to gestational age significantly (r = 0.773), while the correlation was not observed in late pregnancy. In normal pregnancy, PAPP-A concentration correlated to both SP1 and HPL concentration through all gestational age significantly. In abnormal pregnancy, however, PAPP-A concentration increased in severe toxemia and IUGR against decreasing SP1 and HPL concentrations. So far as twin pregnancy and hydramnion, PAPP-A, SP1 and HPL concentrations increased together. These results indicate that PAPP-A concentration may reflect feto-placental function in normal pregnancy and predict some obstetric disorders.