FETAL GAMMA-GLUTAMYL-TRANSFERASE ACTIVITY - CLINICAL IMPLICATION IN FETAL MEDICINE

In a retrospective study of 3,129 fetal blood samples, we first determ ined normal values for gammaglutamyl transferase (GGT) activity and fo und 33 cases with a mean GGT level of 961.8 U/l (prevalence 1.05%) cor responding to more than 10-fold normal values. In such extreme cases, elevations of GGT activity in fetal blood have been poorly studied. Th e goal of this work was to correlate this highly abnormal biological f inding with pathological fetal conditions and try to better understand the pathophysiological mechanisms. The most frequent underlying disor ders were infections (n = 11), renal or bowel malformations (n = 12) a nd genetic abnormalities (n = 5). Two cases of cystic fibrosis and one case of fetal alcohol syndrome were also encountered. In another 2 ca ses, no explanation was found.