SERIAL SERUM DIAMINE OXIDASE ESTIMATIONS IN NORMAL SINGLETON AND TWlN PREGNANCIES AND IN ABNORMAL PREGNANCIES

Summary

Serum diamine oxidase was measured throughout pregnancy in 33 normal pregnancies and 133 women whose pregnancies were complicated. A specific and sensitive method was used. In normal pregnancy, the mean level rises sharply until 18 to 21 weeks, thereafter varying little. Because there is a wide scatter of normal values later in pregnancy, serial diamine oxidase has a restricted place as a placental function test. However, in abortion low or falling levels found. There is an appreciably higher level in twin pregnancy than in normal singleton pregnancies, whilst in the twin pregnancies with complications, the levels tended to fall within the range for normal singleton pregnancies.