[Placental function in pregnant women with anemia]

Abstract

The important finding in anemia of pregnancy is impairing hormonal placental function, certain complications of pregnancy and labor. Oxytocinase in the maternal serum was determined to evaluate placental function. Many authors pointed out the important role of the enzyme in biochemical monitoring of human pregnancy. 120 females at the III trimester of gestation were selected at random, but women with additional complications of pregnancy were excluded. Serum iron, total iron binding capacity, hemoglobin level, red blood cells count and hematocrit were assayed. Oxytocinase activity in different periods of gestation was compared to the earlier established normal values. It was found that iron deficit was associated with decreasing activity of the enzyme. It is concluded that there is impaired placental function in pregnancy anemia.