Seromucoid and Albumin Levels in Maternal and Cord Serum in Relation to Obstetric Stress

Abstract

Summary The perchloric acid‐soluble glycoproteins of serum (seromucoid), a serum protein sub‐fraction which increases dramatically, together with a fall in serum albumin, in a wide variety of clinical situations, including clinical stress, was examined in relation to the stress of parturition. The results indicated that while the clinical stress response is not necessarily absent during childbirth, the profound changes in the amount and distribution of body fluid which occur at this time effectively mask any stress response that may have been invoked. Cord serum was also examined in this context and contained higher levels of albumin and considerably lower levels of seromucoid than maternal serum.

Relationship between the transplacental gradients of bupivacaine and alpha 1‐acid glycoprotein.

“…The values obtained for AAGF and AAGM were in close agreement with the data of Laureli (1968) who used an electrophoretic technique, and the data of Gleichmann et al (1973) and Song et al (1970) who used radial immunodiffusion methods for the measurement of AAG concentrations. The lack of correlation between maternal or foetal seromucoid (of which AAG is the major component) and the duration or mode of delivery has been reported previously (Good et al, 1973). The absence of correlation is to be expected since the response of AAG to stress or trauma only becomes apparent 24-48 h after the onset of the stressful situation (Fremstad et al, 1976;Ridd et al, 1979), and in this study the duration of labour exceeded 24 h in only one case.…”