C-reactive protein concentration in the sera of pregnant women with imminent premature parturition and preterm amniorrhea.

C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were evaluated during spontaneous labour, in imminent premature parturition (IPP) and after preterm rupture of oocyst membranes (PROM). Increasing CRP level during spontaneous labour was found in 16.6% parturients. Elevated CRP level in patients with IPP makes it impossible to predict premature labour. In parturients with PROM, increase in CRP level makes further infection predictable only in a few cases.

[Cathepsin D activity in amniotic fluid and serum during labor and puerperium in normal cases and those complicated by EPH-gestosis]. / Aktywnosc katepsyny D w plynie owodniowym oraz w surowicy krwi w czasie porodu i pologu w przypadkach fizjologicznych i powiklanych Gestoza-EPH.

Cathepsin D activity during labour and puerperium in normal cases and those complicated by mild or moderate EPH-Gestosis was examined. Sera from maternal and umbilical cord blood, as well as the extraplacental blood and amniotic fluid were used for determinations. The gestational age of physiologic pregnancies and pregnancies complicated by EPH-Gestosis was 40 weeks. The first stage of labour was from 4 to 6 hours. The second stage of labour was over 10 minutes. In the group of women with mild and moderate EPH-Gestosis, the maternal serum activities on the third and fifth day of puerperium were significantly lower than in nonaffected subjects. In patients with moderate EPH-Gestosis, the activities in the maternal sera on the first day of puerperium, and in the umbilical blood were decreased when compared to controls. Uniformly, activities of the studied enzyme have been found to be lower in the umbilical cord blood sera than in the sera of the parturients. In cases of mild and moderate EPH-Gestosis the enzyme activity in the amniotic fluid was much lower than in controls, whereas in the extraplacental blood it was much higher.

Complement levels of C4, C3C, factor B, and C1 inactivator in peripheral and retroplacental blood of parturient women with EPH gestosis.

The complement levels were determined in 54 parturient women with EPH gestosis, in 32 normal parturient women and in 24 normal non pregnant women. Complement components: C4, C3c, factor B /Bf/ and C1 inactivator /C1 INA/ were measured by radial immunodiffusion. Peripheral and retroplacental blood were examined. Concentrations of C4, C3c, Bf in peripheral blood of both groups of parturient women were significantly higher than in normal non pregnant women. Peripheral blood of parturient women with EPH gestosis contained significantly higher concentrations of C3c than in normal parturient women. Complement Bf levels of normal parturient women were lower in the retroplacental blood than in the peripheral. The levels of C4 were significantly decreased and C3c increased in the retroplacental blood of parturient women with EPH gestosis when results were compared with retroplacental blood of normal parturient women. Results of present study suggest that complement activation could contribute to the pathogenesis of EPH gestosis.

Prognostic value of cardiotocographic acoustic test in post-term pregnancies.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the acoustic test in post-term pregnancies. 80 acoustic tests were done (alkaline phosphatase and oxytocinase). In 12 cases, the cardiotocographic recordings of the acoustic test were described as incorrect, 11 neonates of this were born in asphyxia. In the group of neonates responding to the stimulus correctly, all neonates were born in a generally good state. The results show that the acoustic test is characterized by high prognostic value and a correct test result can predict a good fetal state.