Serum alpha₂-macroglobulin, transferrin, albumin, and IgG levels in preeclampsia

Abstract

A radial immunodiffusion technique has been used to measure levels of four serum proteins in preeclampsia with or without proteinuria and in normal pregnant and non-pregnant controls. In preeclampsia unaccompanied by proteinuria, albumin and transferrin levels are similar to those found in the normal pregnant controls, but there are significant falls in 0x2-macroglobulin and IgG. When preeclampsia is accompanied by proteinuria there is a marked fall in albumin and an increase in o'2-macroglobulin. Since oU2-macroglobulin has antiplasmin activity it is possible that increased levels of this protein in preeclampsia accompanied by proteinuria contribute to the intravascular coagulation which has been described in this disorder.Both in pregnancy and the nephrotic syndrome increased levels of serum x2-macroglobulin have been reported (Schumacher and Schlumberger, 1963;Schultze and Schwick, 1959). We therefore thought it would be of interest to determine the serum oI2-macroglobulin levels in preeclampsia, a complication of pregnancy which bears a certain similarity to the nephrotic syndrome. For comparison the serum levels of transferrin, IgG, and albumin have also been measured to demonstrate changes due to factors such as haemodilution.We report here the serum levels of c2-macroglobulin, transferrin, IgG, and albumin, assayed by a radial immunodiffusion technique, in preeclampsia and in matched normal pregnant and non-pregnant controls. Subjects and MethodsSera were obtained from four groups of patients: (1) preeclampsia with proteinuria (13 cases); (2) preeclampsia without proteinuria (13 cases); (3) normal pregnant (26 cases); (4) non-pregnant (26 cases). Preeclampsia was defined as hyper-

Antigen Analysis of Pre-Eclamptic Plasma Antibodies Using Escherichia Coli Proteome Chips

“…The results showed that the total IgG concentrations in the healthy women were significantly higher than in the PE patient group (p < 0.0007), and this echoed findings reported in several previous studies (42)(43)(44). Only samples with an IgG concentration near the average were further tested because high IgG concentrations can cause nonspecific binding.…”

Serum α-macroglobulins in renal disease and preeclampsia

“…However, it has also been found in the serum of a small number (180) of normal males and females (Maclaren, Reid, Konugres, and Allen, 1966). Since conventional serum OC2-macroglobulin is known to be increased in the nephrotic syndrome (Schultze and Schwick, 1959;Steines and Mehl, 1966;Housley, 1968) and in preeclampsia accompanied by proteinuria (Horne, Howie, and Goudie, 1970a), it seemed likely that the serum levels of this other macroglobulin, PAG, might also increase in such diseases. Using a radial immunodiffusion technique we have determined the serum levels of oC2-macroglobulin and PAG in 53 patients with various renal diseases and in agesex-matched controls, and also in preeclampsia with or without proteinuria and in normal pregnant controls.…”

Maternal plasma volume and disorders of pregnancy.

“…imposed pre-eclampsia were excluded.9 1' Thus a raised blood pressure may directly reduce plasma volume, but in preeclampsia, a more important factor may be a low concentration of albumin in the plasma, which is characteristic of the disorder.12 13 It is assumed that the hypoalbuminaemia is due to albumin loss in the urine, after proteinuria develops, although this has never been proved. The possibility that albumin may leak into the extravascular tissues through abnormally permeable capillaries has not been substantiated.…”