EVALUATION OF SERUM CANCER ANTIGEN CA-125 IN PREECLAMPSIA

We investigated the possible presence of a relationship between cancer antigen CA 125 levels in preeclampsia that would allow CA 125 to be u sed to monitor preeclampsia progression. Serum CA 125 was measured in 45 pregnant women suffering from preeclampsia during the third trimest er of pregnancy and in 135 normal pregnant women by using the immunora diometric assay. The CA 125 level exceeded 35 U mL(-1) in nine of 35 ( 20%, median 27.6 Um L-1, range 4-143 U mL(-1)) of patients with preecl ampsia, in 24 of 30 (80%, median 67.0 U mL(-1), range 10-131 U mL(-1)) of pregnant healthy women at the first trimester, in two of 55 (3.5%, median 19.9 U mL(-1) range 11-38 U mL(-1)) of women at the second tri mester and in nine of 50 (18%, median, 26.7 U mL(-1), range 10-54 U mL (-1)) of women at the third trimester. The levels were significantly d ifferent between the preeclamptic women and normal women at the third trimester (p < 0.0175). The highest serum levels were detected in the first trimester as compared to the second or third trimesters of norma l pregnancy (p < 0.001). The occurrence of elevated CA 125 levels in t he third trimester of normal pregnancy may limit the use of the assay for diagnosis of preeclampsia.