title: Amniotic fluid cortisol in high-risk human pregnancies.
abstract: Amniotic fluid cortisol (AFC) levels were measured in 76 normal and 67 high-risk human pregnancies. When compared to normal gestations, diabetic pregnancies were found to be associated with lower AFC levels, while toxemic, early Rh-sensitized, and other stressed pregnancies had higher mean cortisol values. Serially followed normal and high-risk pregnancies showed a progressive rise in AFC with increasing gestational age. Significant correlation between AFC concentrations and lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratios was noted in normal, diabetic, and toxemic gestations. These results are concordant with the hypothesis that cortisol may be involved in fetal lung development.
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000032:analysis*; D004899:Erythroblastosis, Fetal / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000032:analysis; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012306:Risk; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D013109:Sphingomyelins; D006854:Hydrocortisone