Serum relaxin levels in prostaglandin E2 induced abortions

Relaxin, a peptide hormone produced only by the corpus luteum of pregnancy, can be used as a marker of luteal function in human pregnancy. Serum immunoreactive relaxin levels were measured serially in six women having second trimester abortions induced with intravaginal prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) suppositories. All patients aborted within 17 hours of the first suppository. No significant changes were detectable in serum relaxin levels in any of the patients. It is concluded that PGE2 does not interfere with the corpus luteum's ability to secrete relaxin in the second trimester of human pregnancy.