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Alkaline phosphatase (ALPP) in placental extract and in the serum of black mixed parturients from Bahia, Brazil

Maria Christina Bahiana Olympio da Silva; Eliane S. Azevêdo; Maria das Graças de Freitas Sousa⁺; Rosemary Duarte Sales de Carvalho; Maria Rita Passos Bueno

Laboratório de Genética Médica, Hospital Universitário Prof. Edgard Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Rua Augusto Viana s/n Canel, 40110-160 Salvador, BA, Brasil. Send correspondence to M.C.B.O.S.
⁺Deceased

ABSTRACT

This paper analyses the levels of heat-stable placenta alkaline phosphatase (ALPP) in maternal serum and placental tissue extracts in 325 parturients of a Brazilian black mixed population. Based on a skewed to the right and departed from normal distribution of ALPP activity in placental extracts two groups were defined: group I (312 patients with values lower than 280 mg phenol/g/15') and group II (42 patients with values > 280). The cut-off point between groups is suggested by the histogram of enzyme levels. The levels of ALPP activity were correlated with a number of fetal and maternal parameters. The results of the separated analysis of each group added evidence favoring group independence. The main characteristics differing between the groups were: positive correlation of enzyme levels with birthweight, fetal maturity and phenotypes in group I and heavier babies and excess of primiparity in group II. A biological explanation of these results is not possible at this time because the function of ALPP is unknown.

Keywords: Alkaline phosphatase; placental; serum; black mixed parturients.

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