Sialic acid, sialyltransferase and neuraminidase levels in maternal plasma, urine and lymphocytes during pregnancy and post-partum period--a longitudinal study in women.

The total sialic (N-acetylneuraminic acid) levels were serially determined in maternal plasma, urine and lymphocytes during human pregnancy and post-partum period. The enzymes, sialyltransferase and neuraminidase, were also examined in the plasma samples. The sialic acid content of plasma and urine (expressed in terms of the creatinine content in urine) was elevated during pregnancy and increased with advancing gestation (P less than 0.001). A few days (0-6) prior to parturition there was a significant (P less than 0.01) fall in the plasma sialic acid levels, which subsequently increased again in the post-partum period (1-14 days), reaching values even greater than that observed during pregnancy. On the other hand, there was no decrease in the urinary sialic acid levels before delivery, and the post-partum values in urine, though higher than the values obtained in non-pregnant women, were not significantly greater than the levels observed during pregnancy. The sialic acid levels in lymphocytes were not altered during pregnancy. There was also no statistically significant change in serum sialyltransferase activity at any stage of pregnancy or post-partum period, while neuraminidase was not detectable in any of the plasma samples. The results are discussed with reference to the role of circulating sialic acid during pregnancy.