Steadily rising cystine aminodeptidase (CAP) values .during pregnancy has been suggested adequate placental function and CAP estimation can ba av aluable parameter in judging the function stateof the placenta.
Three hundreds sixty four blood samples from Korean normal and certain groups of complicated pregnant, women during pregnancy, in early labor and pureperium with control groups of non-pregnant women, normal cord blood samples and ´normal men were analyzed by using a rapid method for estimation of CAP activity in the serum.
The normal values of CAP activity according to the gestation weeks of normal pregnancy were estabilshed and compared with the results of certain groups of complicated pregnancies.
The results were obtained as follows;
1) The mean CAP activities of control groups, non-pregnant women (0. 237mU/ml), normal cord blood samples .(0.327mU/ml) and normal :.men (0-174mU/ml) showed no significant differences each other and their values were similra to the mean values of early pregnancy (0. i55mU/ml at 6 weeks). 2). The mean CAP activities in normal pregnancy showed progressively increasing tendency by weeks of gestation with a mean of 0.155mU/ml (0.094-0.235mU/ml) at 6 weeks, 0.399mU/ml (0.235-0.470mU/ml) at 11-12 weeks, 1.802mU/ml (0.9872.867mU/ml) at 27-28 weeks and 4.721mU/ml (3.290-6.768mU/ ml) at 39-40 weeks of gestation, respectively. At term, about 30 folds increased value than that of early pregnancy was noted. After 42 weeks of gestation, the mean CAP activity dropped to 3.147mU/ml.
3). No decline of CAP activities were noted during the first stage of labors compared with the values of term normal pregnancy. The CAP activities were gradually decreased in early puerperium with decrease of 36% and 44% of term values in postpartum 2nd and -3rd day in normal preiancy.
4). The CAP activities for the patients with threatened abortion were similar to the values of corresponding weeks of normal pregnancy. The CAP activities of women with missed abortion and fetal death in utero, however, showed tendency of clear decrease -or extremely low activities.
5). The CAP activities in the cases of multiple pregnancy were high or above the upper limits for the corresponding weeks of normal single pregnancy except one case, associated with fetal death in utero and severe pre-eclampsia.
6). The lower activities of CAP were found in almost all patients with severe pre-eclampsia while the values of mild pre-eclampsia were within the. limits of corresponding weeks of normal pregnancy.
7). The CAP activity was correlated to the weight of the placenta and birth weight during 8-42 weeks of normal pregnancy. A positive correlation (p<0. 001) was found` between placental weight and CAP activity. On the other hand no such corre lation(p<0.125) could be demonstrated between CAP activity and birth weight.
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