Urinary digoxin-like immunoreactive substance in pregnancy. Relation to urinary electrolytes

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Clinical Chemistry
• Reproductive Physiology

Background:

• Digoxin-like immunoreactive substance (DLIS) is found in amniotic fluid and maternal blood during pregnancy.
• Previous studies indicate elevated DLIS levels during gestation, but urinary excretion patterns are less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the changes in urinary DLIS levels in healthy pregnant women throughout gestation and postpartum.
• To explore the relationship between urinary DLIS and various clinical and urinary parameters, including gestational week, creatinine, calcium, potassium, and magnesium.

Main Methods:

• Urine samples were collected from healthy women during pregnancy and after delivery.
• Urinary DLIS levels were measured and correlated with gestational week and urinary concentrations of creatinine, calcium, potassium, and magnesium.
• Statistical analyses, including correlation and regression, were performed to assess relationships, with adjustments for confounding factors like gestational week and urinary creatinine.

Main Results:

• Urinary DLIS levels demonstrated a progressive, linear increase with gestational week, returning to nonpregnant levels by the first postpartum day.
• Urinary DLIS showed significant correlations with urinary creatinine, calcium, potassium, and magnesium levels.
• After adjusting for urinary creatinine, the correlation between urinary DLIS and urinary calcium remained significant.

Conclusions:

• Urinary DLIS excretion increases significantly during pregnancy and normalizes rapidly postpartum.
• Urinary DLIS levels are associated with urinary creatinine and calcium, suggesting a potential role in pregnancy-related metabolic changes.
• The independent relationship between urinary DLIS and urinary calcium, even after accounting for creatinine, warrants further investigation into their physiological connection during pregnancy.