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THE FUNCTION OF THE ANTERIOR PITUITARY‐ADRENAL CORTEX AXIS IN HYPEREMESIS GRAVIDARUM
Author(s) -
Kauppila A.,
Ylikorkala O.,
Järvinen P. A.,
Haapalahti J.
Publication year - 1976
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.1471-0528.1976.tb00723.x
Subject(s) - hyperemesis gravidarum , medicine , endocrinology , pregnancy , basal (medicine) , pathogenesis , adrenocorticotropic hormone , etiology , insulin , hormone , nausea , biology , genetics
Summary In order to study the function of the pituitary‐adrenal axis, serum ACTH and cortisol levels were estimated before and after insulin induced hypoglycaemia in nine women with hyperemesis gravidarum, seven women in normal early pregnancy and in eight non‐pregnant controls. Before hypoglycaemia, the basal ACTH level in the hyperemesis group (102.4±62.9 pg/ml) was higher than in normal early pregnancy (67.5±19.2 pg/ml; p<0.05) or in non‐pregnant controls (54.8±25.2 pg/ml; p<0.01). Correspondingly, the mean cortisol value in hyperemesis (0.47±0.16 μmol/1) was higher than in normal early pregnancy (0.39±0.10 μmol/1; p>0.05) or in non‐pregnant controls (0.32±0.13 μmol/1; p<0.01). After insulin the elevation of ACTH (p>0.05) and cortisol (p<0.01) was observed in every group. The level of ACTH and cortisol was highest in hyperemesis group. Our results do not support the idea that hypofunction of the pituitary‐adrenal axis contributes to the aetiology or pathogenesis of hyperemesis gravidarum. The high ACTH level might be evidence of the psychic instability of hyperemesis gravidarum patients.