[Clinical significance in determining pregnancy zone protein]

Serum pregnancy zone protein (PZP) levels were determined by PZP-single radial immunodiffusion in 708 normal pregnancies, 207 pregnancies with complication, and 188 cases with gynecological tumors. The results indicated that serum PZP could be detected at the fifth week of normal pregnancy, up to peak level at the 40th week. 81.5% women with threatened abortion who had a good prognosis had normal PZP levels. The PZP levels of women with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), anencephalus and ectopic pregnancy were within the normal range. However, 51.6% and 80.0% serum PZP levels in patients with malignant mole and choriocarcinoma, respectively, were below the normal level; PZP levels in cases with ovarian cancer were significantly higher than that of patients with ovarian benign tumors (P < 0.05); and PZP in endometrial carcinoma and cervical cancer were significantly higher than that in myoma of uterus (P < 0.05). This study showed that the measurement of serum PZP levels might be an important prognostic reference index for predicting the outcome of threatened abortion and identifying benign trophoblastic tumors and gynecological tumors.