Cytidine deaminase--a marker for pre-eclampsia?

Cytidine deaminase (cytidine aminohydrolase, EC 3.5.4.5) was measured in blood collected for routine antenatal monitoring from 590 unselected pregnant women. The enzyme measurements were made without prior knowledge of the clinical condition of the patients. Increased activity of cytidine deaminase was found in 42.9% of patients with severe pre-eclampsia, 9.1% of patients with mild pre-eclampsia and in 8.6% of normal pregnancies. These results show a poor correlation of elevated cytidine deaminase activity with pre-eclampsia and a significant false positive elevation of the enzyme activity in normal pregnancies.