Plasma Protein Pattern in Recurrent Cholestasis of Pregnancy

Abstract

The plasma concentrations of 17 major plasma proteins were determined specifically in a series of women with recurrent cholestasis of pregnancy and in a control series of normal pregnant women. The plasma protein pattern found in recurrent cholestasis of pregnancy showed mostly mild changes typical of hepatocellular damage and biliary obstruction, but cold insoluble globulin increased markedly and showed a close correlation with the serum y-glutamyl transpeptidase activity and a weak correlation with the alkaline phosphatase activity. These findings might indicate a common cause of the increase of the protein and the enzymes. Only minor and inconclusive protein changes were seen in the infants of mothers with recurrent cholestasis of pregnancy.

Key Words:

• Cholestasis
• hepatosis
• plasma proteins
• pregnancy