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Maternal serum total cortisol levels in normal and pathologic pregnancies.
I Phocas1, A Sarandakou, D Rizos
12nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Athens, Areteion Hospital, Greece.
Summary
Maternal serum total cortisol (MSFT) levels increase throughout pregnancy, sharply rising before labor. Abnormal pregnancies show significantly altered MSFT levels, with lower levels in intrauterine growth retardation and higher levels in premature delivery or membrane rupture.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Reproductive Biology
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Maternal serum total cortisol (MSFT) is a key hormone during pregnancy.
- Understanding MSFT dynamics is crucial for monitoring pregnancy health.
- Variations in MSFT may indicate specific pregnancy complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically investigate the effect of normal pregnancy on maternal serum total cortisol (MSFT).
- To evaluate MSFT levels in various abnormal pregnancy conditions, including intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), premature rupture of the membranes (PROM), premature delivery (PD), and post-maturity syndrome (PMS).
Main Methods:
- A systematic study of MSFT was conducted in 90 normal pregnancies (n=204).
- MSFT was quantified using enzyme immunoassay.
- MSFT levels were compared between normal pregnancies and pregnancies with IUGR, PROM, PD, and PMS.
Main Results:
- MSFT demonstrated a gradual increase from week 6 to week 40 of gestation, with a significant surge in the final two weeks before labor.
- Significantly lower MSFT levels were observed in cases of IUGR.
- Highly elevated MSFT levels were found in pregnancies with PROM and PD, irrespective of gestational age.
- Pregnancies with PMS exhibited considerably lower MSFT levels compared to normal term pregnancies, with a decreasing trend in serial measurements.
Conclusions:
- Pregnancy significantly alters maternal serum total cortisol levels, with distinct patterns observed in normal versus complicated pregnancies.
- MSFT levels serve as a potential biomarker for identifying and assessing conditions like IUGR, PROM, PD, and PMS.
- Further research into MSFT's role can enhance diagnostic and prognostic capabilities in obstetrics.