M Löfgren1, T Bäckström. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Umeå University, Sweden.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The role of progesterone levels during human labor is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate serum concentrations of progesterone and 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione in normal and abnormal deliveries. METHODS: Venous and umbilical cord serum samples were collected from 108 parturient women. In a further 49 deliveries, arterial and venous umbilical cord sera were collected separately. The concentrations of progesterone and 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione were determined by radioimmunoassay. The delivery modes studied were: elective cesarean section; oxytocin-resistant dystocia; normal but induced delivery, and normal spontaneous delivery. RESULTS: Progesterone concentrations in maternal and umbilical serum were higher following normal labor than after dystocia (p<0.005) and elective cesarean section (p<0.005). The maternal and umbilical progesterone concentrations in dystocia and elective cesarean section were between 77-43% of those in normal labor. The concentrations did not vary between gestational weeks 37 and 42, within the different modes of delivery. The 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione serum concentration in the fetal compartment was twice that in the maternal compartment (p<0.001); its concentration in venous umbilical serum was higher than in corresponding arterial samples (p<0.001). No distinct differences in the 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione serum concentration were found with regard to parity or mode of delivery. CONCLUSION: High progesterone concentrations during parturition appear to be related to effective labor. The findings support results from in vitro experiments on human term myometrium.
BACKGROUND: The role of progesterone levels during humanlabor is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate serum concentrations of progesterone and 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione in normal and abnormal deliveries. METHODS: Venous and umbilical cord serum samples were collected from 108 parturient women. In a further 49 deliveries, arterial and venous umbilical cord sera were collected separately. The concentrations of progesterone and 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione were determined by radioimmunoassay. The delivery modes studied were: elective cesarean section; oxytocin-resistant dystocia; normal but induced delivery, and normal spontaneous delivery. RESULTS:Progesterone concentrations in maternal and umbilical serum were higher following normal labor than after dystocia (p<0.005) and elective cesarean section (p<0.005). The maternal and umbilical progesterone concentrations in dystocia and elective cesarean section were between 77-43% of those in normal labor. The concentrations did not vary between gestational weeks 37 and 42, within the different modes of delivery. The 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione serum concentration in the fetal compartment was twice that in the maternal compartment (p<0.001); its concentration in venous umbilical serum was higher than in corresponding arterial samples (p<0.001). No distinct differences in the 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione serum concentration were found with regard to parity or mode of delivery. CONCLUSION: High progesterone concentrations during parturition appear to be related to effective labor. The findings support results from in vitro experiments on human term myometrium.
Authors: Maria Imaculada Muniz-Junqueira; Lídia Maria Figueira Peçanha; Valeriano Luiz da Silva-Filho; Maria Cecília de Almeida Cardoso; Carlos Eduardo Tosta Journal: Clin Diagn Lab Immunol Date: 2003-11
Authors: C K Konopka; E N Morais; D Naidon; A M Pereira; M A Rubin; J F Oliveira; C F Mello Journal: Braz J Med Biol Res Date: 2013-01-11 Impact factor: 2.590