Comparison of prolidase enzyme activities of maternal serum and placental tissue in patients with early pregnancy failure.

PURPOSE: To compare the maternal serum and placental tissue levels of prolidase enzyme activity in women with early pregnancy loss (EPL) with those of women who underwent elective dilatation and curettage (D&C).

METHODS

Serum and placental tissue samples from 52 women with early pregnancy loss (study group) and 49 women who underwent elective D&C (control group) were collected. Criteria for inclusion in the study group were based on evidence of vaginal bleeding, transvaginal ultrasonography results, and clinical findings. Prolidase enzyme activity was determined using a photometric method.

RESULTS

Serum levels of prolidase activity were lower in the early pregnancy loss group than in the control group (p < 0.001). However, placental tissue activity levels were significantly higher among women with an EPL than among women without an EPL (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Results from this study demonstrate an inverse relationship of serum and placental levels of prolidase activity. Placental utilization of the prolidase enzyme may explain the low serum levels. As prolidase is a marker of collagen turnover, we conclude that collagen turnover is increased in patients with early pregnancy loss and may be an etiopathological factor of this disease.