title: Catecholamine levels in pregnant physicians and nurses: a pilot study of stress and pregnancy.
abstract: As a pilot study of occupational stress and pregnancy, we measured urinary catecholamine excretion in ten pregnant physicians and three intensive care nurses between 26-37 weeks' gestation, once during a work day and again during a non-work day. Urinary catecholamines were increased by 58% (P less than .03) during work periods compared with non-work periods. Catecholamine levels were also increased by 64% (P less than .025) over those of a working non-physician control group of similar gestational age. Urinary catecholamine levels are a direct reflection of plasma catecholamine levels. Catecholamine levels are known to increase with physical stress, such as standing, and with mental stress, such as difficult problem-solving. Catecholamines are also known to decrease uterine blood flow. Measurement of catecholamines may be a helpful marker in investigating the relationship between occupation and pregnancy outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina, School of Medicine, Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Haley
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Bowes
mesh_terms: D002395:Catecholamines / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009726:Nurses; D010822:Physicians, Women; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000652:urine*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000652:urine*; D014937:Work
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines