Serum hyaluronic acid levels during pregnancy and labor

Objective: To study the changes in concentrations of serum hyaluronic acid in uncomplicated human pregnancies. Methods: We determined the concentrations of serum hyaluronic acid, using a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, in 70 nonpregnant women, 250 w omen during their pregnancies, and 68 women at the time of parturition. Res ults were analyzed for statistical significance with Scheffe test for multi ple comparisons. Results: During pregnancy, mean (+/- standard deviation) serum hyaluronic a cid levels were 11.4 +/- 4.5, 13.6 +/- 2.8, 20.6 +/- 1.5, and 46.9 +/- 7.9 ng/mL at 5-14 (n = 47), 15-26 (n = 46), 27-37 (n = 58), and 38-40 (n = 99) weeks' gestation, respectively. Pregnant women in labor (n = 68) had signif icantly higher levels (100.4 +/- 113 ng/mL) than did women at term but not in labor (P <.01). Conclusion: Maternal serum hyaluronic acid concentrations increase as pregn ancy progresses and serum levels increase significantly at term. Hyaluronic acid may be associated with cervical ripening during parturition. (Obstet Gynecol 1999;93:480-4. (C) 1999 by The American College of Obstetricians an d Gynecologists.).