The increase in plasma and saliva cortisol levels in pregnancy is not due to the increase in corticosteroid-binding globulin levels.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab
; 71(3): 639-44, 1990 Sep.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-2394772
ABSTRACT
Total and free cortisol levels are significantly elevated in pregnancy, but the reasons for this are not clear. The relationships between the diurnal variation in saliva (free) cortisol and baseline levels of total cortisol, corticosterone-binding globulin (CBG), progesterone, and estrogens were studied in several groups of women (normal nonpregnant, taking a combined oral contraceptive pill, after superovulation therapy, during early and late pregnancy, and postpartum). Saliva cortisol levels were significantly elevated in late pregnancy throughout the day, with preservation of diurnal variation. Total cortisol and CBG levels were also significantly raised in pregnancy, but total cortisol levels were normal in women taking a combined oral contraceptive pill in spite of significantly elevated CBG. There was no relationship between saliva cortisol and progesterone levels, and it is unlikely that the increase in cortisol is due to displacement of cortisol from CBG by progesterone. Cortisol levels fell slowly postpartum over several days, making it improbable that the increase in cortisol is solely due to elevated CRH levels. It appears that increased free and total cortisol levels in pregnancy are related to resetting of the sensitivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and not merely to raised CBG, progesterone, or CRH levels.
Key words
Biology; Contraception; Contraceptive Methods; Endocrine System; Examinations And Diagnoses; Family Planning; Female Contraception; Hormones--analysis; Hormones--changes; Laboratory Examinations And Diagnoses; Oral Contraceptives; Oral Contraceptives, Combined; Physiology; Pregnancy; Progestational Hormones; Progesterone--analysis; Puerperium; Reproduction
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Saliva
/
Pregnancy
/
Transcortin
/
Hydrocortisone
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Pregnancy
Language:
En
Journal:
J Clin Endocrinol Metab
Year:
1990
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United kingdom