[Pregnancy-associated alpha2-glycoprotein (alpha2-PAG)--past, present and future]

The pregnancy-associated alpha 2-glycoprotein (alpha 2-PAG), first described 30 years ago, is a high-molecular neuramino-glycoprotein. Its serum concentration is normally low, but substantially increases during pregnancy and in some malignant tumour diseases. A review is given of occurrence and quantification of alpha 2-PAG under physiological and pathophysiological conditions, site of synthesis and localization, purification and physico-chemical properties, biological role and possible clinical use.