title: Immunoreactive gonadotropin-releasing hormone level in maternal circulation throughout pregnancy.
abstract: Immunoreactive gonadotropin-releasing hormone was quantitated in maternal blood. Circulating levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone were found to be significantly higher during pregnancy than in nonpregnant cycling women. The highest concentrations of gonadotropin-releasing hormone immunoreactivity were observed in the first half of pregnancy with values at 20 to 42 weeks being significantly lower. A correlation with placental human chorionic gonadotropin-releasing hormone concentrations and maternal circulating gonadotropin-releasing hormone levels was noted. Four pregnancies that resulted in premature labor and/or delivery had very low circulating maternal gonadotropin-releasing hormone concentrations, possibly reflecting placental dysfunction in these cases.
mesh_terms: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000175:diagnosis; D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D010927:Placental Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones