Serum levels of adenosine deaminase and pregnancy-related hormones in hyperemesis gravidarum

Abstract

We investigated the correlation between pregnancy-related hormones and serum adenosine deaminase (indicator of cellular immunity) level in women with hyperemesis gravidarum. Twenty patients with hyperemesis gravidarum and 20 normal pregnancies were included in this prospective, case-control study. Serum adenosine deaminase levels, hematological parameters (white blood cells, neutrophil, monocyte and lymphocyte counts) and hormone levels (prolactin, progesterone, thyroid stimulating hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin beta subunit, estradiol (E2)) were measured in all women. Interrelations of blood cell counts and hormone levels with serum adenosine deaminase levels were also investigated. Serum adenosine deaminase, human chorionic gonadotropin beta subunit, thyroid stimulating hormone, E2, progesterone and prolactin levels, and lymphocyte and monocyte counts in women with hyperemesis gravidarum were significantly higher than in controls but white blood cells, neutrophil, T3 and T4 levels were not different. Serum adenosine deaminase level correlated with E2, progesterone, lymphocyte, and monocyte levels for all patients. Elevated serum adenosine deaminase in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum may relate to high levels of E2 and progesterone.