A SERIAL STUDY OF PREGNANCY PROTEINS IN PRIMIGRAVIDAE

Abstract

The plasma concentrations of four ‘pregnancy proteins' and three steroid hormones have been measured throughout pregnancy in 15 primigravidae. Two of the proteins, human placental lactogen (HPL) and pregnancy‐specific β₁‐glycoprotein (PS βG), are specific for pregnancy and correlate well with the stage of gestation. It is suggested that measurement of PSβG may be useful in assessing feto‐placental wellbeing. Neither of the pregnancy‐associated proteins, steroid‐binding β‐globulin (SB βG) and pregnancy‐associated α₂‐glycoprotein (α₂‐PAG), correlated with the length of gestation although, near term, plasma α₂‐PAG levels appeared to be related to fetal weight. In addition, no correlation has been demonstrated between placental or fetal weight and any of the pregnancy‐specific proteins or steroid hormones studied.