title: Four cases of pregnancy with low estrogen production due to placental enzymatic deficiency.
abstract: 4 cases of normal pregnancies associated with low estriol excretion and resulting in healthy infants are described, in which by in vitro studies on the placentas a steroid 3-sulfatase deficiency was found in 3 cases and a lack of activity of the aromatizing system was found in the 4th case. A reduced activity of the aromatizing system was also shown in one of the cases affected by steroid 3-sulfatase defect. The placental 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, delta 4,5-isomerase system was measured in 3 cases and results were normal. The repetition of the specific lack of steroid 3-sulfatase was observed in 2 successive pregnancies of the same patient (case T.C.). It is interesting to note that, at variance with other reports, this patient delivered 2 fetuses, both female.
mesh_terms: D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D004964:Estriol / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007535:Isomerases / Q000378:metabolism; D010920:Placenta / Q000201:enzymology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000652:urine; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D043266:Steryl-Sulfatase; D013429:Sulfatases / Q000172:deficiency*
chemical_list: D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D013429:Sulfatases; D043266:Steryl-Sulfatase; D007535:Isomerases; D004964:Estriol