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PP12 is one of the recently discovered soluble tissue antigens of the placenta. During normal pregnancy maternal serum PP12 levels rise during the first 18 weeks reaching a mean peak value of 139.9 +/- 40.26 micrograms/l; after that there is a fall to a mean value of 111.9 +/- 42.39 micrograms/l between 28 and 40 weeks. Significantly higher mean serum PP12 levels were found in the third trimester in two high risk pregnancy groups (281.09 +/- 117.08 micrograms/l in pre-eclamptic toxaemia and 203.71 +/- 73.77 micrograms/l in diabetes) while serum PP12 levels remained normal (114.94 +/- 58.06 micrograms/l) in twin pregnancy. The increase of serum PP12 concentration in toxaemia and in diabetes may be of considerable diagnostic significance.

The rare case of a 63-year-old male diagnosed with pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis coli is presented and discussed. The patient was found to have an unsymptomatic pneumoperitoneum on plain chest x-ray. The results of a contrast enema, computed tomography scan, and laparoscopy are presented. The patient had an uneventful hospital course without any specific therapy. Causes and possible therapeutic options are discussed.

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