[Pre-eclampsia and placental hormones (author's transl)].

Human placental lactogen (HPL) and beta 1-SP-1, a placental glycoprotein specific for pregnancy, were determined in 177 pregnant women with pre-eclampsia of varying severity. The serum levels of both hormones decrease during pregnancy in concordance to the severity of pre-eclampsia. In women with severe pre-eclampsia more than 50% showed extreme decreases of the serum concentrations of both hormones. Because of the simple methodology of the test, rapid availability of the results and a lower cost, the determination of the beta-1-SP-1 is perferable to the determination of HPL.