DRAMATIC INCREASE IN LEVELS OF PLACENTAL PROTEIN-14 IN AMNIOTIC-FLUIDAT 10-15 WEEKS PREGNANCY

Concentrations of placental protein 14 (PP14) were measured by radioim munoassay in 103 amniotic fluid samples from 10 to 20 weeks of pregnan cy. Low levels of PP14 were present at 10-12 weeks (median values 82-2 80 mug/l). After 12 weeks, the levels increased by two orders of magni tude to reach a peak at 18 weeks (median 11 mg/l). This pattern may re flect the obliteration of the extraembryonic coelom and direct apposit ion of the decidua with the chorio-amnion.