Stages Of Normal Pregnancy Research Articles

Radioimmunoassay of serum bile acids in normal pregnancy and in recurrent cholestasis of pregnancy.

Radioimmunoassay has been used to quantitate the conjugates of cholic and chenodeoxycholic acid in venous blood from women in different stages of normal pregnancy and in patients with recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (RCP). The levels of cholic and chenodeoxycholic acid were shown to be within normal limits throughout uncomplicated pregnancy, and elevated in RCP. Because of RIAs simplicity and reliability, it is suggested that this method can be used to detect and follow the course of RCP and to assess the possible influence of treatment, e.g. diet.

Maternal and amniotic fluid 17α-hydroxyprogesterone levels during pregnancy: Diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia in utero

17α-Hydroxyprogesterone levels (17α-OHP) were measured in 70 samples of amniotic fluid and 30 samples of maternal serum obtained at different stages of normal pregnancy and in samples of maternal serum and amniotic fluid from a pregnancy with the fetus affected with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The mean level of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone in the amniotic fluid from control pregnancies was 133.9 ± 7.6 ng. per 100 ml. (range, 25.1 to 266.6 ng. per 100 ml.). The levels were significantly higher in midpregnancy (157.4 ± 8.4 ng. per 100 ml.) than in late pregnancy (79.2 ± 6.8 ng. per 100 ml.) (p < 0.01). Amniotic fluid 17α-OHP levels in the affected pregnancy were significantly higher than the control levels. Mean maternal 17α-OHP level during early pregnancy and midpregnancy was 259.5 ± 22 ng. per 100 ml. and there was a two- to three-fold increase after 34 weeks (672.2 ± 61 ng. per 100 ml.) The maternal 17α-OHP levels in the affected pregnancy were significantly higher than the control levels after 34 weeks, but before 34 weeks, the level was within the range seen in control pregnancies. Measurement of 17α-OHP levels in the amniotic fluid before 24 weeks and maternal serum after 34 weeks can be utilized for the prenatal diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Prolactin in normal pregnancy: Relationship of maternal, fetal, and amniotic fluid levels

Serum prolactin was measured simultaneously by a homologous radioimmunoassay in 92 parturients and their offspring at term, and in maternal serum and amniotic fluid during various stages of normal pregnancy. Serum levels of 208 ± 8 ng. per milliliter were found in maternal blood; the corresponding levels in the cord serum were 354 ± 14 ng. per milliliter. Prolactin levels in maternal serum progressively increased during pregnancy. Prolactin levels in amniotic fluid were found to be 2- to 10-fold higher than the corresponding levels of the mothers. The possible source of the amniotic fluid prolactin molecule, which is identical with the human pituitary molecule, is discussed.

Total cortisol in amniotic fluid and fetal lung maturation.

Total cortisol was determined by radioimmunoassay in 48 samples of amniotic fluid obtained at various stages of normal pregnancy. Before the 34th week, all cortisol levels were less than 40 ng per milliliter. At 35 to 40 weeks the mean value was 2.4 times higher than that at 20 to 34 weeks. In pregnancies greater than 40 weeks, a further increase in total amniotic-fluid cortisol was observed, and values greater than 120 ng per milliliter were found only in patients of this group. A good rank correlation between cortisol and lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio was found in 43 samples (r = 0.83, p less than 0.001). No respiratory-distress syndrome of the newborn occurred when total amniotic-fluid cortisol was greater than 60 ng per milliliter (16 patients). Total amniotic-fluid cortisol may reflect initiation of fetal lung maturation, and may help identify pregnancies with a gestation period of over 40 weeks.

Adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate in amniotic fluid from normal pregnancy.

ABSTRACT A competitive protein binding assaywas used for the determination of adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) in human amniotic fluid. A cyclic AMP specific binding protein prepared from rabbit skeletal muscle was utilized and the method was applicable for accurate measurements of this nucleotide in the 0.1–1.0 pmole range. The levels of cyclic AMP in amniotic fluid samples from various stages of normal pregnancies were measured and the values ranged from 2.6 pmoles per ml in the fluid at 4 weeks gestation to an average of 19.2 pmoles per ml in the 40th week of pregnancy. The lowest cyclic AMP levels were found in amniotic fluids in the 4–14 weeks gestational period (2.8 ± 0.6 (mean ± sd) pmoles per ml). Thereafter, the fluid cyclic AMP concentration showed a steady increase with the advance of pregnancy, reaching a peak value in the fluids at term. The mean level during the 16–24 weeks gestation period was 4.9 ± 0.8 (mean ± sd) pmoles per ml and a maximum level of 17.6 ± 3.6 (mean ± sd) was fo...

Lymphocyte response to phytohaemagglutin in pregnancy.

SummaryPhytohaemagglutin‐induced responsiveness of the lymphocytes from non‐pregnant healthy women and from women at all stages of normal pregnancy was studied. There was no significant difference between the two groups. The implications of this finding in relation to the ability of the mother to tolerate her antigenically foreign fetus are discussed.

Estrogen levels and estrogen therapy in papular dermatitis of pregnancy

Papular dermatitis of pregnancy has been defined as a generalized, pruritic, papular eruption occurring only during pregnancy. Biochemical abnormalities of elevated chorionic gonadotropin (during last trimester), lowered plasma cortisol levels, and shortened plasma cortisol half-life have been reported. A preliminary study showed low, or low normal, values of total estrogen in 24 hr. urine specimens. Recent determinations of estriol levels in 24 hr. urine specimens in 14 patients showed reduced values in all cases. Eight were below the normal ranges, and 6 were below the mean level of the corresponding stage of normal pregnancy. Stilbestrol therapy, in doses of 1,000 to 2,500 mg. per day, resulted in clearing of the dermatitis in 4 to 5 days. Fetal loss, in untreated cases, has been reported as 30 per cent; and in cases treated with corticosteroids, as 12 per cent. Stilbestrol therapy in 9 patients resulted in normal infants in every case.

Effect of chlorpromazine on the function of the endocrine organs.

When chlorpromazine is administered to women in both the early and the later stages of normal pregnancy, with toxemia of late pregnancy or in postclimacteric age, the excretion into urine of estrone, estradiol, estriol, pregnanediol and total 17-hydroxycorticoid was found reduced, but that of total 17-ketosteroid was little affected.Following administration of chlorpromazine, the values not only of excreted pituitary but also of chorionic gonadotropin were decreased, the action of ACTH in stimulating the adrenal cortex was lowered and the response to Friedman's test was inhibited. Consequently, it is inferred that chlorpromazine, beside depressing the center of internal secretion, simultaneously reduces the function of the peripheral endocrine organs as well as of the placenta.