SERUM LAMININ LEVELS IN NORMAL-PREGNANCY AND PREECLAMPSIA

Laminin is a large noncollagenous glycoprotein localized in the tropho blast and glomerular basement membrane. We measured laminin levels in maternal serum, umbilical cord serum and amniotic fluid, both from pre eclamptic and normal pregnant women, by enzyme immunoassay. The serum laminin levels in the preeclamptic group were significantly (p < 0.05 to p < 0.01) higher than those in the normal pregnant group. It has be en suggested that laminin plays an important role in implantation of t he placenta during early pregnancy. In this study, the amniotic-fluid laminin level at term was found to be lower than maternal serum lamini n. We postulate that laminin may not have an important role in the mai ntenance of late pregnancy. There was a significant positive correlati on between maternal serum laminin levels and serum uric acid levels. T here was no significant correlation between maternal serum laminin lev el and blood pressure, urinary protein concentration, or any other lab oratory data. These results suggest that there is damage of glomerular and placental spiral arteries in preeclampsia.