ELEVATED SERUM GROUP-II PHOSPHOLIPASE A(2) LEVELS ARE ASSOCIATED WITHDECREASED BLOOD-FLOW VELOCITY IN THE UMBILICAL ARTERY

Twenty-two hospitalized patients, diagnosed as having hypertensive dis order of pregnancy, were selected from two University Clinics. Materna l serum samples were analyzed for serum group II phospholipase A(2) (P LA(2)-II) by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay. At the same time, umbili cal artery blood flow velocities were measured with color Doppler sono graphy for orientation and pulsatile Doppler sonography for recording waveforms. Nineteen normotensive third-trimester pregnant patients ser ved as a control group. Maternal serum PLA(2)-II was elevated in 8 cas es with preeclampsia. This elevation was invariably associated with de creased blood flow velocity in the umbilical artery. In 1 case, the cl inical condition allowed simultaneous follow-up of serum enzyme and bl ood flow velocity: a further rise of serum PLA(2)-II was linked to a f urther decrease in the blood flow velocity of the umbilical artery. A large spillover of the elevated PLA(2)-II content from the preeclampti c placenta into the maternal serum is associated with a decrease in bl ood flow velocity in the umbilical artery. The enzyme might serve as a link between local proximal (placenta) and systemic distal (umbilical arterial blood flow) effecters.