Investigation of the serum level of pregnancy-associated alpha2-globulin during contraceptive treatment by means of radial immunodiffusion method

Abstract

The serum level of pregnancy-associated alpha2-globulin was studied in 70 healthy women taking three different types of oral contraceptives [40 Bisecurin: containing 1.0 mg of Ethynodiol diaceticum +0.05 mg Ethynilestradiol; 20 Infecundin: containing 2.5 mg of Norethynodrel +0.1 mg of Mestranol; 10 Cervicundin: containing of 0.5 mg Ethynodiol diaceticum]. Elevated amounts of serum level of pregnancy associated alpha2-globulin could be detected in 37 of the 40 women taking Bisecurin and in all 20 taking Infecundin. Cervicundin however, failed to induce any change in the serum protein pattern of the 10 subjects studied. Serum levels of pregnancy-associated alpha2-globulin were higher in the Infecundin-taking (53 mg %), than in the Bisecurin-taking group (29 mg %). This shows the oestrogen dependency of the pregnancy-associated alpha2-globulin and points to a possible implication of this globulin in the immunosuppressive processes.

PIP: Investigations of the qualitative changes of serum proteins in 70 healthy women taking oral contraceptives for several months are reported. Of these, 20 took Infecundin (2.5 mg norethynodrel plus .1 mg mestranol), 40 took Bisecurin (1 mg ethynodiol diacetate plus .05 mg ethinyl estradiol), and 10 took Cervicundin (.5 mg ethynodiol diacetate). Measurements were made in 30 cases before therapy and in all subjects 2 and 3 months after treatment. Pregnancy-associated alpha-2-globulin was measured by the radial immunodiffusion method using standard antigen and monospecific antiserum. In the 30 cases studied before therapy, pregnancy-associated alpha-2-globulin was found in the serum of 8, but in very small amounts. This alpha-2-globulin was found in the serum of all 20 women taking Infecundin, mean level 53 + or -37 mg%. This level corresponds to serum levels normally found at the 18th week of gestation. After Bisecurin therapy the alpha-2-globlin was found in 37 of the 40 subjects. The mean level was 29 + or -24 mg%. This level corresponds to serum levels normally found between the 10th-14th weeks of pregnancy. These findings are thought to indicate the estrogen dependence of this protein. No increase was found in any of the 10 patients taking Cervicundin which contains gestagen only. The findings were considered statistically significant (p less than .05). This protein has been isolated from the serum of 63 of 100 patients with tumors, 91 malignant and 9 benign, but mostly in small amounts. It is thought to influence the immune tolerance of the human organism. In 12 cases of cancer of the corpus uteri this protein disappeared, or markedly decreased, 2 months after radical surgery.