Immunoglobulin levels and liver function tests in normal and toxemic pregnancies

Serum immunoglobulin G and M levels were measured and liver function studies were carried out in 12 normal pregnant women, 36 pre-eclamptic women, and 5 women with pre-eclampsia superimposed upon chronic hypertension. Although IgG levels were slightly lower and IgM levels were slightly higher in the pre-eclamptic subjects, there was no significant difference in immunoglobulin levels between the normal and pre-eclamptic groups. Age and parity were not found to affect immunoglobulin levels in pre-eclamptic patients. There was no appreciable difference in liver function tests between the normal and pre-eclamptic groups except alkaline phosphatase levels in the toxemic primigravida group which were slightly higher than normal pregnancy levels.