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MATERNAL PLASMA UNCONJUGATED OESTROGENS IN EARLY HUMAN PREGNANCY
Author(s) -
Harrison R. F.,
Kitchin Yvonne
Publication year - 1980
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.1471-0528.1980.tb04602.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pregnancy , abortion , progestogen , gestation , radioimmunoassay , obstetrics , endocrinology , hormone , biology , genetics
Summary The plasma levels of unconjugated oestrone (El), oestradiol (E2) and oestriol (E3) were determined by radioimmunoassay, twice weekly in 21 subjects from the earliest detection of pregnancy up to 16 weeks gestation where possible. Normal ranges for the three oestrogens were established using data from 15 subjects who had a normal pregnancy, including one sampled throughout the cycle of conception. The six other subjects comprised a twin pregnancy, two who aborted and three who received progestogen therapy, and their oestrogen levels were compared with the normal ranges. El and E2 levels showed a steady increase over the period of study with E2 levels exceeding those of El. E3 levels remained low (in many cases less than 50 pg/ml) until week 13 when levels began to rise steadily. In a caseof twin pregnancy, El and E2 levels only became significantly elevated when compared with single pregnancies from week 15. There were differing oestrogen trends in two patients who aborted. In a patient with an incomplete abortion, levels only dropped significantly after abortion had occurred, whereas, in a patient with a complete abortion, a gradual and progressive fall in El and E2 levels was observed. The levels of El and E2 for the three subjects receiving progestogen therapy did not differ significantly from those of the normal subjects.