INHIBINS INHIBINS - QUALITIES, QUALITIES, SIGNIFICANCE SIGNIFICANCE AND HIS ROLE IN PREGNANCY PREGNANCY

Abstract

<p>Inhibins are glycoprotein hormones of which there are two molecular forms, inhibin A and inhibin B. Classically, inhibin is known to have a negative feedback effect on pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone secretion. The fetoplacental unit produced inhibin throughout pregnancy. Inhibin Ais the predominant molecular form of inhibin in maternal circulation from 4 week of gestation. Although the precise biological function of inhibin Ain pregnancy is unclear, it is evident from recent studies that inhibin A could be a better marker of placental function than human chorionic gonadotropin because of its shorter half-life. The possible clinical application for the measurement of inhibin Ain early pregnancy could be in predicting miscarriage , Down's syndrome, preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction in the first and/or second trimester before the onset of yhe clinical symptoms. Inaddition, several evidences underline the potential role and the clinical usefulness of their measurements in the diagnosis, prevention,prognosis and follow-up of different gestational pathologies such as:threatened abortion, placental tumors, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy,intrautherine growth restriction,fetal hypoxia.The measurement of inhibin Aand activin Ainto the biological fluids of pregnancy will offer in the future further possibilities in early diagnosis,prediction and monitoring pregnancy diseases.</p>