title: Biochemical changes in prolonged labour in the tropics.
abstract: Serum electrolytes, creatinine, urea and urine osmolality were estimated in 25 healthy pregnant women at term, 25 women in early normal labour, and 25 healthy parturients in prolonged labour. A statistically significant fall in serum potassium was found in early labour with a further significant fall in prolonged labour. Bicarbonate changes followed the same pattern of a progressive fall. Sodium fell slowly, reaching significant levels only in prolonged labour and chloride fell even more slowly. There was a conspicuous or significant rise in serum urea with a smaller, not significant rise in creatinine. The rapid insensible loss of water in tropical areas was reflected in the rise in serum urea while homeostatic mechanisms maintained a slower fall in sodium and chloride by renal conservation.
mesh_terms: D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000097:blood; D002712:Chlorides / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D009549:Nigeria; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood; D014329:Tropical Climate; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood; D014556:Urine
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D002712:Chlorides; D014508:Urea; D012964:Sodium; D003404:Creatinine; D011188:Potassium