Elevated serum sialic acid in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE Serum sialic acid has recently gained interest as a possible cardiovascular risk factor as well as a potential tumour marker. The effect of pregnancy on serum sialic acid is unclear particularly in the post-partum period. DESIGN Longitudinal cohort. SETTING Teaching hospital antenatal clinic. POPULATION 29 pregnant women, 27 age matched non-pregnant women. METHODS Specific enzymatic assay for sialic acid. The first serum sample was taken between 37 and 42 weeks of gestation; in 22 women this was followed by a second serum sample at 12 weeks postpartum. Serum sialic acid concentration was also measured in the 27 controls. RESULTS Mean (SD) serum sialic acid concentration was higher during pregnancy than post-partum: 91.1 (11.1) v 77.5 (11.1) mg/dl (p < 0.001); or in the control group: 66.0 (9.7) mg/dl (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Serum sialic acid is elevated during pregnancy and postpartum.