Premium
MATERNAL PLASMA OESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE LEVELS DURING THERAPEUTIC ABORTION INDUCED BY INTRA‐AMNIOTIC INJECTION OF PROSTAGLANDIN F 2α
Author(s) -
Symonds E. M.,
Fahmy D.,
Morgan C.,
Roberts G.,
Gomersall C. R.,
Turnbull A. C.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1972.tb11873.x
Subject(s) - prostaglandin f2alpha , endocrinology , medicine , pregnancy , prostaglandin , amniotic fluid , placenta , fetus , endocrine system , chemistry , hormone , biology , genetics
Summary Plasma 17β‐oestradiol, total unconjugated oestrogens and progesterone levels were measured in ten patients in the second trimester of pregnancy who were undergoing abortion by intra‐amniotic injection of prostaglandin F 2α (PGF 2α ). The correlation between total unconjugated plasma oestrogens and 17β‐oestradiol was highly significant (r =+0.92; p<0.001). A similar positive correlation between total unconjugated plasma oestrogen and progesterone was observed (r =+0.66; p<0.001). The concentration of these steroids in samples, taken at intervals during normal pregnancy, showed considerable variation. Following administration of PGF 2α no consistent change was seen in plasma steroid concentrations until after delivery of the fetus and placenta. PGF 2α therefore appears to have no direct effect on oestrogen and progesterone biosynthesis and may act principally by direct stimulation of myometrial contractility.