Immunoglobulins in Normal Pregnancy, Pre‐eclampsia and Pregnancy Complicated by the Nephrotic Syndrome

Summary The immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, IgM and IgD have been measured serially in ten normal pregnancies by the Mancini method of immunodiffusion. A depression of IgG and IgA concentrations and elevation of IgD concentration was found. Eighteen patients with severe pre‐eclampsia and heavy proteinuria, and four patients with a proven diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome due to chronic glomerulo‐nephritis were also studied. In both protein‐losing conditions a depression of IgG and IgD was found. This is believed to be a result of “molecular sieving” of these globulins of intermediate size by the glomerular basement membrane into the urine. The biochemical and pathological similarity of pre‐eclampsia and nephrotic syndrome is discussed and a comparison is made to nephrotic syndrome produced by renal vein thrombosis.