Placental sulfatase deficiency: clinical and biochemical study of 16 cases.

Clinical and biochemical data of 16 typical cases of placental sulfatase deficiency have been observed. In vivo loading tests with DHA-S allowed us to make a prenatal diagnosis. In vitro experiments gave confirmation, showing zero or virtually zero placental sulfatase activity towards delta 5P or DHA sulfates Aromatase activities, when tested, were normal or more often less than standard values, the latter showing themselves rather large individual variations. All pregnancies were associated with the delivery of male neonates in good health but 3. The 15 living babies have been developing normally since then. These results, together with those reported in the literature, suggest that placental sulfatase deficiency is under control of an X-linked recessive character, this being supported by the recent observation of such a disorder in two sisters simultaneously pregnant. As to the high frequency problem of cesarian section, pointed out by several authors, we cannot conclude, from our own observations, that the defect has an obvious influence on the good outcome of labor, as 10 out of the 16 women delivered vaginally near term.