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Clinical and Experimental Immunology logoLink to Clinical and Experimental Immunology
. 1973 Apr;13(4):603–611.

Studies on pregnancy-associated globulin

C H W Horne, A L C McLay, H B Tavadia, I Carmichael, Annette C Mallinson, A A C Yeung Laiwah, Mair A Thomas, R N M MacSween
PMCID: PMC1553736  PMID: 4123823

Abstract

Using a radial immunodiffusion technique the serum levels of pregnancy-associated globulin (PAG) have been measured in eighteen females before and during administration of combined oestrogen/progestogen oral contraceptives, in twenty-eight females before and after the oestrogen or progestogen component of oral contraceptives and in ten males before and during stilboestrol therapy for prostatic carcinoma. Significant increases in PAG levels were observed during administration of (1) combined oestrogen/progestogen oral contraceptives, (2) the oestrogen component of the oral contraceptive and (3) stilboestrol. No change was observed after administration of the progestogen component.

The serum PAG levels have also been determined in seventy-three patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, seventy-three hospital in-patients and forty-six patients with various malignant diseases. A marked increase in the percentage of PAG positive sera was observed in all disease groups, particularly in malignant disease. However, compared with late pregnancy, the serum levels in all three groups were low. Preliminary experiments have failed to show that this globulin possesses immunosuppressive properties.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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