Hypercortisolism and the resistance to dexamethasone suppression during gestation.
Maternal adrenocortical function was studied by measuring plasma cortisol and urinary free cortisol during gestation. Changes in suppressibility of pituitary-adrenocortical function were determined by dexamethasone administration. Urinary free cortisol as well as plasma cortisol increased during the course of gestation. The suppressibility by dexamethasone became less effective as pregnancy advanced. These results suggest that pregnant women have pituitary-adrenocortical hyperfunction and tissue refractoriness to glucocorticoid which increases during the course of gestation.
Odagiri
E
E
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tokyo Women's Medical College, Japan.
Ishiwatari
N
N
Abe
Y
Y
Jibiki
K
K
Adachi
T
T
Demura
R
R
Demura
H
H
Shizume
K
K
D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000328:Adult; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine
D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone