title: [Sequential changes of serum steroid levels in puerperium].
abstract: To examine daily changes in blood hormone levels during the postpartum period, twenty steroids including free and conjugated pregnenolone (P5), 16 alpha OH-P5(16P5), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA), 16 alpha OH-DHA(16DHA), estrone(E1), estradiol(E2), estriol(E3), estetrol(E4) and free progesterone(P4), 16 alpha OH - P4(16P4), 20 alpha-dihydro-P4(20P4) and cortisol(F) were measured simultaneously by RIA. Seven patients who delivered a healthy child vaginally were selected for this study. The steroid levels in maternal blood were measured daily until the 7th post partum day and were compared to those at delivery. Levels of free and conjugated E1, E2, P5, free E3 and 16P4 dropped rapidly within 24 hours and reached approximately 10% of those at delivery. Conjugated E2, E4, 16P5, and P4, 20P4 levels also dropped after delivery to less than 17% of those at delivery within 72 hours. However, the levels of these steroids were maintained at more than 20% of those at delivery until the 7th postpartum day. These results provide further information on the significance of the steroids in maternal blood during pregnancy.
mesh_terms: D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011284:Pregnenolone / Q000097:blood*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D011284:Pregnenolone; D006854:Hydrocortisone