title: Endocrinologic events in early pregnancy failure.
abstract: Fourteen women experiencing early pregnancy failure have been studied during the time of conception and at frequent intervals until spontaneous abortion occurred. Serial measurements of serum estradiol, progesterone, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, prolactin, human placental lactogen (hPL), and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) were determined; regular sonar scanning allowed the time of fetal death to be determined to within 7 days in six patients and a diagnosis of blighted ovum to be made in the remainder. In all patients serum progesterone and estradiol concentrations were within the normal range up to 7 weeks but appeared to decrease from about 8 weeks' gestation whether or not a living fetus was present. The placenta continued to produce hCG and hPL but, despite the continuing presence of hCG, the levels of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone declined to concentrations below those associated with normal pregnancy. These data suggest that the placenta may require a particular stimulus to take over production of progesterone and estradiol.
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000097:blood*; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones / Q000097:blood; D010928:Placental Lactogen / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D011388:Prolactin; D010928:Placental Lactogen