The excretion of gamma-glutamyl transferase in pregnancy.

A cross-sectional study of gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT) excretion in 316 healthy pregnant women showed the enzyme excretion (mU per mmol creatinine) was significantly higher than that of a non-pregnant control group. The increase was apparent before the end of the first trimester and continued therafter. These changes may be indicative of hypertrophy and/or hyperplasia of the nephron and be part of the overall renal adaptation to normal pregnancy. Even higher levels were recorded in three obstetric patients in whom renal complications were to be expected and this may indicate a specific type of renal damage.