A possible explanation for the occurrence of increased beta-hexosaminidase activity in pregnancy serum.

The activities of the lysosomal enzymes beta-hexosaminidase, beta-glucuronidase, and beta-galactosidase were confirmed to be elevated in serum from pregnant women. The increased activity of beta-hexosaminidase and beta-glucuronidase showed the same changes in the isoenzyme pattern as found in serum from patients with some liver affections. In the light of recent findings, the increased activity of beta-hexosaminidase (and some other lysosomal enzymes) in pregnancy and liver disease might depend upon the non-parenchymal liver cells not being able properly to clear these enzymes from the blood.