Placental protein 5 (PP5) in complicated pregnancies.

Maternal serum PP5 concentrations were assayed in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth retardation, pre-eclampsia, diabetes mellitus, placental abruption and twins. Elevated PP5 levels were noted in twin pregnancies and to a lesser extent in diabetes and pre-eclampsia. Measurement of PP5 was of no value in the detection of fetal growth retardation. The great majority of PP5 levels above the normal range were associated with a placental abnormality.