Cigarette smoking in pregnancy results in marked decrease in maternal hCG and oestradiol levels.
We have examined serum levels of oestradiol (E2), sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) during early pregnancy in relation to smoking status at the time of sampling in a series of 147 women. Smoking was associated with significantly depressed serum levels of E2, SHBG and hCG: in smokers, E2 levels were on average 17.6% lower (P = 0.037), SHBG levels were 12.4% lower (P = 0.15), and hCG levels were 21.5% lower (P = 0.044). There appeared to be a steady decline in these values with increasing cigarette consumption. These lower hormone levels in smokers may explain certain adverse effects of smoking in pregnancy.
Bernstein
L
L
Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90033.
Pike
M C
MC
Lobo
R A
RA
Depue
R H
RH
Ross
R K
RK
Henderson
B E
BE
D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D004958:Estradiol