ABSTRACT
Proteins serving transport functions such as lipid or vitamin carrier proteins also show an elevation. Naturally coagulation factors also undergo modification during pregnancy, and this similarly contributes to the formation of a special situation. The complex, multifaceted change necessitates categorizations according to which the proteins whose biological function is generally known and whose discovery was mostly by biological means, are treated separately. The chapter summarizes the concentration changes of specific proteins during pregnancy and, where possible, to contrast data based on the authors’ own findings with that obtained by other research groups. The proteins in the pregnancy-related group are synthesized by the fetus and from there enter into the maternal blood stream in slight concentrations. These proteins are also found in the amniotic fluid as a result of fetal urine and other discharge. The Alpha-Fetoprotein value for normal healthy control subjects is 2 to 25 ng/ml in serum, measured using radioimmunoassay methods.
