Evaluation of levels of cortisol in saliva using electro-chemical luminescence in low-risk and high-risk pregnancies

Ana Carla P Montenegro,Viviane Rosado D' Assunção,Monique Gabrielli B Luna,Francisco Bandeira,Pollyanna Valente N Raposo

doi:10.1590/s1519-38292010000100007

Ana Carla P Montenegro, Viviane Rosado D' Assunção + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1519-38292010000100007

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: to compare the levels of cortisol (cortisolemia refers to the level of cortisol in blood) in women with a high-risk pregnancy compared with those with a low-risk pregnancy, by way of evaluation of levels of cortisol in saliva, using the electrochemical luminescence technique (ECL). METHODS: 38 women aged between 17 and 40 years in the third trimester of pregnancy were divided in two groups: 20 low-risk pregnancies and 18 high-risk ones. Cortisol in saliva was collected at midnight and measured using ECL. The mean levels of cortisol in saliva in the two groups were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: the mean systolic and diastolic pressure was normal in both groups. The levels of cortisol in the saliva of women with high-risk pregnancies was significantly higher than those for the low-risk pregnancy group (20.2 (±21,1) nmol/L vs 11.4(±16.2) nmol/L; p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: a high risk pregnancy involves higher levels of cortisol than a low-risk one. The levels of cortisol in saliva, as measured using ECL, can be used to identify hypercortisolism in pregnancy.

Highlights

Human gestation brings about changes in the activity of most endocrine systems in a woman, including the hypthalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA).[1]
The results of the present study suggest that salivary cortisol, measured using electrochemical luminescence (ECL), is found at significantly higher levels in women with high-risk pregnancies compared to the low-risk group
The use of ECL to measure cortisol in saliva in pregnant women has not been the subject of much study[4,15] and those that use this technique have not collected their samples at midnight.[15]

Summary

Introduction

Human gestation brings about changes in the activity of most endocrine systems in a woman, including the hypthalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA).[1]. The levels of free cortisol are initially normal and rise during pregnancy and reach maximum levels at the end of the second and third trimesters.[5] Total cortisol and free plasmatic cortisol can reach values that are two or three times higher compared with women who are not pregnant. These high levels of plasmatic cortisol observed in pregnant women are equivalent to those found in Cushing’s syndrome.[1] The increase in levels of free cortisol during pregnancy leads to restriction of the action of cortisol during this period. Evaluating the levels in normal pregnant women as well as in the high risk group may provide information on these questions

Objectives

Results

Conclusion