Serum Alkaline Phosphatase in Pregnancy: An Immunological Study

Abstract

Alkaline phosphatase in maternal sera at term is partially inactivated by an anti-human placental alkaline phosphatase antibody. No such inactivation is seen in sera from nonpregnant subjects or newborn infants. This provides strong evidence that serum alkaline phosphatase elevation in pregnancy is due to circulating placental enzyme. © 1966, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.