[Dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin levels in amniotic fluid during the second trimester in normal and pathologic...

Authors measured the dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA) and serotonin (5-HT) contents of amniotic fluid between 19 and 21 weeks with fluorimetric method. The amniotic fluid samples were obtained by transabdominal amniocenteses performed due to elevated maternal serum-alphafetoprotein levels and suspect ultrasound findings. They considered as normal values the average of 30 amniotic fluid samples obtained from pregnant women who gave birth to healthy babies at term. The mean values (mean+SE) of normal cases were 136.6 + 20.2 nmol/l for DA, 29.5 + 9.4 nmol/l for NA and 72.6 + 4.9 nmol/l for 5-HT. Against these values, in cases of open spina bifida the level of NA showed no significant difference, the DA level was higher (p < 0.05) and the 5-HT level was also higher (p < 0.001). The DA level was found higher (p < 0.05) in cases of intrauterine retardation as well, however there was no difference in the NA and 5-HT levels in these cases. In cases of preterm deliveries, none of the above parameters showed differences. Authors suggest that in cases of spina bifida the measurement of 5-HT in the amniotic fluid can be a complementary diagnostic method. They also state that no prognosis about the outcome of pregnancies can be expected from such examinations.