IMMUNOGLOBULINS IN NORMAL PREGNANCY, PRE‐ECLAMPSIA AND PREGNANCY COMPLICATED BY THE NEPHROTIC SYNDROME

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Abstract
Summary: The immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, IgM and IgD have been measured serially in ten normal pregnancies by the Mancini method of immunodiffusion. A depression of IgG and IgA concentrations and elevation of IgD concentration was found. Eighteen patients with severe pre‐eclampsia and heavy proteinuria, and four patients with a proven diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome due to chronic glomerulo‐nephritis were also studied. In both protein‐losing conditions a depression of IgG and IgD was found. This is believed to be a result of “molecular sieving” of these globulins of intermediate size by the glomerular basement membrane into the urine.The biochemical and pathological similarity of pre‐eclampsia and nephrotic syndrome is discussed and a comparison is made to nephrotic syndrome produced by renal vein thrombosis.