MATERNAL PLASMA AND AMNIOTIC-FLUID 17-BETA-ESTRADIOL, PROGESTERONE AND CORTISOL CONCENTRATIONS IN WOMEN WITH SUCCESSFULLY AND UNSUCCESSFULLY TREATED PRETERM LABOR
M. Mazor et al., MATERNAL PLASMA AND AMNIOTIC-FLUID 17-BETA-ESTRADIOL, PROGESTERONE AND CORTISOL CONCENTRATIONS IN WOMEN WITH SUCCESSFULLY AND UNSUCCESSFULLY TREATED PRETERM LABOR, Archives of gynecology and obstetrics, 258(2), 1996, pp. 89-96
Maternal plasma and amniotic fluid (AF) were obtained for measurement
of 17 beta-estradiol, progesterone and cortisol concentrations from 40
patients with preterm labor and intact membranes at 28-32 weeks of ge
station: 20 delivered preterm and the remaining 20 patients responded
to tocolytic treatment and delivered at term. Maternal plasma and AF c
oncentrations of these hormones were measured with specific commercial
ly available radioimmunoassay kits. Maternal plasma and AF 17 beta-est
radiol concentrations were significantly higher in women who delivered
preterm than in those who delivered at term, 8.0 ng/ml vs 3.5 ng/ml a
nd 0.85 ng/ml vs. 0.6 ng/ml, respectively. No significant differences
were found between groups in maternal plasma and AF progesterone conce
ntrations. Maternal plasma cortisol concentrations were higher in the
preterm delivery group than in the term group (235 ng/ml vs. 55 ng/ml,
respectively). No significant differences were found in AF cortisol c
oncentrations between groups.