TY - JOUR
T1 - Serum allopregnanolone levels in pregnant women
T2 - Changes during pregnancy, at delivery, and in hypertensive patients
AU - Luisi, S.
AU - Petraglia, F.
AU - Benedetto, C.
AU - Nappi, R. E.
AU - Bernardi, F.
AU - Fadalti, M.
AU - Reis, F. M.
AU - Luisi, M.
AU - Genazzani, A. R.
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - Allopregnanolone is a neuroactive steroid measurable in peripheral circulation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence and the possible changes in serum allopregnanolone and progesterone levels in pregnant women during gestation, at delivery, and in patients with chronic hypertension, with or without superimposed preeclampsia. We also evaluated allopregnanolone in cord blood. Three groups of pregnant women were studied: 1) healthy controls followed longitudinally throughout gestation (n = 14); 2) at vaginal or cesarean delivery (n = 66); and 3) with chronic hypertension (n = 12), with (n = 7) or without (n = 5) superimposed preeclampsia. Allopregnanolone and progesterone levels were measured in maternal and cord serum by RIA. In healthy pregnant women, serum allopregnanolone and progesterone levels progressively increased throughout gestation. Whereas no changes were found at vaginal delivery, serum allopregnanolone and progesterone levels were significantly lower at delivery by emergency cesarean section (P <0.01). Umbilical cord serum allopregnanolone and progesterone levels in emergency cesarean were significantly lower than those found at vaginal delivery (P <0.01). Patients with chronic hypertension, with or without superimposed severe preeclampsia, showed serum allopregnanolone levels significantly higher than those of healthy women at the same gestational age (P <0.01). In conclusion, maternal serum allopregnanolone levels increased during normal gestation were lower in women who underwent emergency cesarean and higher in patients with chronic hypertension, with or without preeclampsia. Because allopregnanolone is active on the central nervous system and in the control of systemic blood pressure, an involvement of this neurosteroid in the adaptive processes induced by pregnancy is suggested.
AB - Allopregnanolone is a neuroactive steroid measurable in peripheral circulation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence and the possible changes in serum allopregnanolone and progesterone levels in pregnant women during gestation, at delivery, and in patients with chronic hypertension, with or without superimposed preeclampsia. We also evaluated allopregnanolone in cord blood. Three groups of pregnant women were studied: 1) healthy controls followed longitudinally throughout gestation (n = 14); 2) at vaginal or cesarean delivery (n = 66); and 3) with chronic hypertension (n = 12), with (n = 7) or without (n = 5) superimposed preeclampsia. Allopregnanolone and progesterone levels were measured in maternal and cord serum by RIA. In healthy pregnant women, serum allopregnanolone and progesterone levels progressively increased throughout gestation. Whereas no changes were found at vaginal delivery, serum allopregnanolone and progesterone levels were significantly lower at delivery by emergency cesarean section (P <0.01). Umbilical cord serum allopregnanolone and progesterone levels in emergency cesarean were significantly lower than those found at vaginal delivery (P <0.01). Patients with chronic hypertension, with or without superimposed severe preeclampsia, showed serum allopregnanolone levels significantly higher than those of healthy women at the same gestational age (P <0.01). In conclusion, maternal serum allopregnanolone levels increased during normal gestation were lower in women who underwent emergency cesarean and higher in patients with chronic hypertension, with or without preeclampsia. Because allopregnanolone is active on the central nervous system and in the control of systemic blood pressure, an involvement of this neurosteroid in the adaptive processes induced by pregnancy is suggested.
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U2 - 10.1210/jc.85.7.2429
DO - 10.1210/jc.85.7.2429
M3 - Article
C2 - 10902789
AN - SCOPUS:0034457558
VL - 85
SP - 2429
EP - 2433
JO - Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
JF - Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
SN - 0021-972X
IS - 7
ER -