Circulating placental proteins in pregnancies complicated by RH isoimmunization.

Nine pregnant women with Rh isoimmunization who delivered newborns with hydrops fetalis were studied. The placental proteins, pregnancy specific beta 1-glycoprotein (SP1), human placental lactogen, and placental protein 5 (PP5) were measured in maternal serum by radioimmunoassays. The results indicate that both the serum human placental lactogen and PP5 levels were significantly higher than those observed in normal pregnancy. The strikingly higher circulating PP5 levels found in all nine patients with Rh isoimmunization studied suggests that serum PP5 may be specifically elevated in pregnant patients with Rh isoimmunization and hydrops fetalis.