Maternal serum hyaluronidase activity in pregnancy.

An unselected series of 291 pregnant women was followed during pregnancy. Maternal serum was assayed for both hyaluraonidase activity and HPL. Urine was assayed for 24 h oestrogen output. A retrospective examination of the results showed that hyaluronidase activity did not provide as good an indication of fetoplacental well-being as did either HPL or pregnancy oestrogen. There were differences, however, in the mean levels obtained in complicated pregnancy, compared to the levels in normal pregnancy. Fetal death was associated with increased hyaluronidase activity whereas fetoplacental dysfunction was associated with lower levels of hyaluronidase activity.