SERUM GLUCURONIDASE ACTIVITY DURING NORMAL AND TOXEMIC PREGNANCY*

Abstract

Serum glucuronidase of 190 [female] [female] was detd. by the method of Talalay, Fishman, and Huggins. In a group of 54 normal non-pregnant [female] [female] , the mean serum glucuronidase was 5.3 = 2.1 [gamma]/ml. The avg. serum glucuronidase of 100 normally pregnant [female] [female] increased from 5 y at 9 wks. to an avg. of 13.3 [gamma]/ml. at term. Post-partum the serum levels reached normal values in from 5[long dash]7 days. Of 24 cases of toxemia of pregnancy, 12 were cases of hypertensive toxemia and, in these cases, the glucuronidase values were normal. In 10 of 12 cases of pre-eclampsia, the values were over 20 and under 54 [gamma]/ml. Glucuronidase activity of normal placenta, ovary, endometrium and myometrium was low compared to liver, spleen, and kidney. Umbilical cord serum was always lower than maternal serum. Study of serum glucuronidase indicated that real differences between hypertensive toxemia and pre-eclampsia exist. The test might be of value in the diagnosis of pre -eclampsia and eclampsia.