CORRELATION OF PLACENTAL ISOFERRITIN WITH BIRTH-WEIGHT AND TIME-POINTOF FIRST CONTRACTIONS

In a prospective study, the correlation between serum levels of placen tal isoferritin (PLF) and outcome of pregnancy was determined in 56 pr egnant women. Women with contractions before the 36th week of pregnanc y showed significantly lower PLF values compared with women with later contractions (p < 0.01). Furthermore, a strong correlation of PLF lev els with birth weight was observed. In 11 (79%) cases with a birth wei ght <2,500 g (group A), PLF values were <10 U/ml whereas only 14% (6 o f 42) of women with babies with a birth weight >2,500 g (group B) reve aled PLF levels <10 U/ml. Because it has been shown previously that PL F has immunosuppressive properties, the secretion of PLF by the placen ta could be responsible for the inhibition of the immunoreactivity of the maternal lymphocytes against the embryo. The strong correlation of low PLF values with preterm contractions and/or low birth weight reco mmends the determination of this protein as a marker for monitoring wo men with high risk pregnancies.