ISSN:
1432-0711
Keywords:
Key words: Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate
;
Preterm labor
;
Amniotic fluid
;
Plasma
;
Parturition
;
Abbreviations: DHEA-S
;
Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate; ACTH
;
adrenocorticotropin hormone
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract. The purpose of this study was to determine whether preterm parturition is associated with changes in maternal plasma and amniotic fluid dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate concentrations. A cross sectional study was constructed according to the gestational age at admission and response to tocolysis. Group 1 consisted of women admitted with preterm labor and intact membranes between 28 and 31 weeks and 6 days gestational age (n=40). Group 2 included 40 patients with preterm labor between 32 and 36 weeks gestational age. Both groups were classified into two subgroups: preterm delivery within seven days of admission and term delivery. Commercially available immunoassay kits validated for amniotic fluid analysis of DHEA-S, were used to measure maternal plasma and amniotic fluid DHEA-S concentrations. Maternal plasma DHEA-S concentrations were significantly higher in women with preterm labor who delivered preterm than in those who delivered at term. (Group 1: median 800 ng/ml [range 100–1100] vs. median 200 ng/ml [70–800], P〈0.001; Group 2: median 850 ng/ml [300–1700] vs. median 300 ng/ml [90–1100], P〈0.001). In contrast, no significant differences were detected in amniotic fluid DHEA-S concentrations. Our data suggest that the rise in maternal plasma DHEA-S concentrations observed in patients with preterm labor may be related to the effects of stress during labor.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004040050128
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