SEROTONIN INFLUENCE ON THE CLINICAL COURSE OF PREGNANCY IN THE FIRST TREMESTER

Abstract

Changes of melatonin and serotonin levels in the plasma can be associated with thedevelopment of the threatened abortion. Hormones of the pineal gland stimulate thesecretion of progesterone, which reduces the contractile activity of the uterus and preventsthe immunological rejection of the trophoblast. The real observations motivated us tostudy serotonin plasma concentrations in cases of the threatened abortion.The aim of the study – to study changes in serotonin levels in pregnant women withclinical manifestations of the threatened abortion before 12 weeks of gestation comparedto women with normal pregnancies.Research material and methods. Two groups were formed: the 1st main group –40 pregnant women with signs of threatened abortion, the 2nd control group – 44 healthypregnant women. An obstetric study, enzyme immunoassay to determine serotonin, andultrasound were carried out. Statistical analysis was conducted according to the generallyaccepted methods of variational statistics.The approval of the scientific work was obtained from the Bioethical Commission of theBukovinian State Medical University (Ukraine).Research results. Results of serotonin levels in venous blood showed their extremeincrease in women with threatened abortion 739.89±111.27 ng/ml compared to normalpregnancy 511.05±140.36 ng/ml (p˂ 0.003). In the pregnant women of the main group,consisting of 40 women, almost all of them had an increased serotonin, except 4 women(10%). This can be explained by hypoprogesteronemia in women with a threat of abortion.Therefore, we consider the change in serotonin concentration as a secondary process thatdoes not require specific treatment. Attention is also drawn to the fact of a reduced levelof serotonin in the control group in cases of further complicated course. Conclusions. Serotonin levels were higher in patients with threatened abortion comparedto uncomplicated pregnancies. Changes in serotonin plasma in cases of threatenedabortion are a consequence, not a cause of abortion, therefore pregnant women needtreatment of obstetric pathology, namely the prescription of progesterone.