Human corticosteroid-binding capacities in normal, high-risk or pregnancies with an abnormal outcome

To determine whether or not the serum corticosteroid binding capacity (CBC) level is related to the outcome of pregnancy or fetal well-being, a total of 124 determinations of CBC were performed in 96 pregnant individuals, using hydrophobic resin adsorption methods. The serum CBC values were elevated with progression of gestation. On the other hand, high-risk pregnancies or those with an abnormal outcome were among the low CBC group, below the mean value (p less than 0.001), whereas normal pregnancies were more often in the high CBC group, over the mean value, in comparison with the low CBC group below the mean value (p less than 0.001), after 28 weeks of gestation. In addition, the ratios of birth weight/placental weight and maternal weight/placental weight were slightly but not statistically high in the low CBC group, in comparison with the high CBC group. Thus, various events related to placental growth might be important factors regulating the serum CBC level. While there are many determinants of corticosteroid binding globulin production and excretion, assessment of CBC levels seems to be a reliable indicator of the outcome of pregnancy, including high-risk pregnancy, in the 3rd trimester.