A rapid method for the measurement of estradiol and hydrocortisone levels in maternal and fetal blood and amniotic fluid.
Estradiol and hydrocortisone levels in maternal and fetal (umbilical cord) blood in human pregnancy can be simultaneously assessed by this method. Chromatography on microcolumns of Sephadex LH-20 with benzene:methanol (85:15) as developing solvent is used to separate estradiol, hydrocortisone, and isatin (a yellow-colored substance used as marker) from interfering steroids. Human late pregnancy plasma is used as the source of both sex hormone-binding globulin and transcortin for the competitive protein-binding assay of estradiol and hydrocortisone, respectively. The method is rapid enough to permit the monitoring of a high-risk pregnancy for plasma estradiol levels on a daily basis. The method is sensitive enough to permit assessment of perinatal adrenocortical function. Hydrocortisone levels can be measured in as little as 3 ml. of amniotic fluid obtained by amniocentesis and preliminary results indicated that hydrocortisone can be determined in as little as 0.1 ml. of fetal scalp blood or newborn baby blood.
D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000032:analysis*; D001554:Benzene; D001665:Binding Sites; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection; D002845:Chromatography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004958:Estradiol / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D004964:Estriol / Q000097:blood; D004970:Estrone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D000432:Methanol; D011247:Pregnancy; D011485:Protein Binding; D012997:Solvents; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D012997:Solvents; D004970:Estrone; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D004964:Estriol; D001554:Benzene; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D000432:Methanol