Premium
THE EXCRETION OF 17‐DEOXYCORTICOSTEROIDS BY WOMEN PREGNANT WITH A NORMAL OR AN ANENCEPHALIC FETUS
Author(s) -
DIVER M. J.,
CAWOOD MARION L.,
HEYS R. F.,
OAKEY R. E.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1973.tb00424.x
Subject(s) - fetus , excretion , endocrinology , medicine , urine , urinary system , pregnancy , physiology , biology , genetics
SUMMARY The urinary excretion of 17‐deoxycorticosteroids by women with a normal fetus, near term, was 15.8 ± 4.2 mg/day (mean ± SD). In contrast, women pregnant with an anencephalic fetus, non‐pregnant subjects and women taking oral contraceptives containing oestrogen excreted 3.8 ± 1.3 mg/day, 3.1 ± 1.4 mg/day and 2.5 ± 0.7 mg/day, respectively. It is concluded that, in normal pregnancy, the fetal adrenal makes a substantial contribution to the production of urinary 17‐deoxycorticosteroids, or their precursors, near term. Analysis of C 21 corti‐costeroids in maternal urine of selected pregnancies may help in the identification of the steroids secreted by the fetus.