Serum cystyl aminopeptidase activity in the 36th week of pregnancy.

Abstract

SUMMARY Serum cystyl aminopeptidase (CAS) activity was estimated at 36 weeks' gestation in 209 normotensive pregnancies. The highest activity was found in 31 women who had spontaneous deliveries before 38 weeks' gestation and the lowest in 76 women who were induced after term. The enzyme levels in 117 women who developed hypertension of pregnancy were higher than for normotensives; the highest levels were found in 32 women with pre-eclampsia. A correlation was found between serum CAS activity at 36 weeks' gestation and the birth weight of babies of women who went into spontaneous labour at term (277 to 283 days' gestation).

Loss of biological activity of arginine vasopressin during its degradation by vasopressinase from pregnancy serum

“…Serum concentrations of vasopressinase have been reported to be higher in patients with pre-eclampsia and pregnancy-induced hypertension than in normotensive pregnancies (Spellacy et al, 1977;Durham & Rewell, 1979;Gordge et al, 1994). It has been proposed that vasopressinase is a pathogenic factor in the evolution of hypertensive pregnancy (Krege & Katz, 1990); abnormally elevated circulating vasopressinase might result in accumulation of AVP breakdown products that retain pressor action.…”

Comparison of Substrates for Measuring Cystyl-Amino Peptidase. Activity in Serum of Pregnancy and Hepatic Disease and in Various Tissues

“…Serial serum cystyl-amino peptidase estimations appear to be helpful in the diagnosis of placental failure (17)(18)(19)(20) and the management of intrauterine fetal growth retardation and fetal distress, etc (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27), but there is some controversy (28)(29)(30)(31)(32). This may be the consequence of differences in various methods used for the enzymes assay.…”