GROUP-I AND GROUP-II PHOSPHOLIPASE-A2 IN SERUM DURING NORMAL AND PATHOLOGICAL PREGNANCY

Phospholipase A2 groups I (pancreatic) and II (synovial) could be a li nk between local and systemic changes in pregnancy, reflected in catal ytic activity. We studied whether normal pregnancy, preeclampsia, pret erm labor and four other diseases have processes involving serum phosp holipase A2s. Pancreatic and synovial-type phospholipase A2 were measu red in the serum of 59 normal pregnant women and 89 patients with path ological pregnancy by newly developed time-resolved fluoroimmunoassays , and the catalytic activity by a radiochemical method using micellar phosphatidylcholine as substrate. During pregnancy weeks 6-14, synovia l-type phospholipase A2 and catalytic activity were elevated 2- to 4-f old, but at 37 weeks values were normal. Pregnancy-induced hypertensiv e diseases increased by 4- to 10-fold the concentration of synovial-ty pe phospholipase A2, reflected in catalytic activity. In 8 out of 14 c ases, the enzyme was increased if the fetus was to be delivered premat urely. The enzymes studied remained within the reference interval in c ases of hepatogestosis, fetal asphyxia, diabetes and twin pregnancy. N ewly developed specific immunoassays for measuring different types of phospholipase A2 in serum can provide insights for clinical follow-up.