Circulating levels of placental protein 10 (PP 10) in diabetic pregnancy complicated by retinopathy.

Placental protein 10 (PP 10) is a soluble tissue antigen of the placenta. PP 10, a glycoprotein, was tested in diabetic pregnancy complicated by retinopathy. A continuous increase in PP 10 serum levels until weeks 35-36 is followed by a fall thereafter up to term. The mean of the healthy control group between 32 and 39 weeks gestation was 22 +/- 10 micrograms/l. In diabetic pregnancies complicated by retinopathy there were measured 69 +/- 24 micrograms/l in benign form and 77 +/- 26 micrograms/l in proliferative form. Both of these values are significantly (p less than 0.05) above the control values. Increased PP 10 levels in diabetic pregnancy complicated by retinopathy are probably caused by placental and amniotic leakages.