Abstract
Author(s): Iwona Janosz (ACEF), Piotr Bodzek (EFG), Robert Partyka (ABE), Danuta KokociÅska (DE), Anita Olejek (DE)
Introduction. HE4 is a protein currently used as a tumor marker for ovarian carcinoma with markedly higher specificity than CA125. To date, normal values of this protein have not been determined for pregnant women. The aim of the study was to evaluate HE4 values in individual trimesters of pregnancy and compare them with levels found in non-pregnant healthy women. Material and methods. The study included 59 women in individual trimesters of physiological pregnancy and 20 nonpregnant healthy controls. Blood for evaluation was taken during a routine clinical examination. Assays were made using the chemiluminescence phenomenon in the Architect system by Abbott (USA). The results were presented using basic descriptive statistics. Results. The mean age of pregnant women in physiological pregnancy was similar to the age of controls. The average HE4 concentration in controls (non-pregnant healthy women) was lower in a statistically significant way than in the whole group of pregnant women and in individual trimesters. HE4 values in the third trimester were higher in a statistically significant way than in the first and second trimesters. Conclusions. HE4 levels increase with the development of pregnancy and are generally higher than in non-pregnant healthy women. An increase in HE4 values in pregnant women should be taken into consideration while diagnosing adnexal tumors during pregnancy. HE4 may be a factor influencing prediction of the severity of diseases during pregnancy. The role of this protein requires further investigation.