The EXCRETION OF Γ‐GLUTAMYL TRANSFERASE IN PREGNANCY

Abstract

Summary A cross‐sectional study of γ‐glutamyl transferase (γ‐GT) excretion in 316 healthy pregnant women showed the enzyme excretion (mU per mmol creatinine) was significantly higher than that of a non‐pregnant control group. The increase was apparent before the end of the first trimester and continued thereafter. These changes may be indicative of hypertrophy and/or hyperplasia of the nephron and be part of the overall renal adaptation to normal pregnancy. Even higher levels were recorded in three obstetric patients in whom renal complications were to be expected and this may indicate a specific type of renal damage.

Urinary Excretion of N-Acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminidase in Normal and Complicated Pregnancy

“…In a previous investigation (10) we showed that N-acetyl-ß-jD-glucosaimnidase excretion can be increased solely by fever, without obvious renal äffection, to levels similar tö those obserVed in pregnancy. Thus, N-acetyl-ß-jD-glucosaminidase in urine is a very sensitive test, and the increased excretion of N-acetyl-ß-Z)-glucosaminidase äs well äs other enzymes (11,12) in normal pregnancy probably reflects reversible physiological changes that enhance the rate of enzyme turnover, rather than being due to renal injury. This Interpretation is cönsistent with the normalization of N-acetyl-ß-Z)-glucosaminidase excretion after delivery.…”