title: Obstetric analgesia and immunoreactive endorphin peptides in maternal plasma during labor.
abstract: We studied the effect of obstetric analgesia on maternal plasma levels of immunoreactive endorphin peptides (ir-EP) during labor and the postpartum period in three groups of parturients: group I (n = 22) had no analgesia, group II (n = 20) received pethidine intramuscularly, and group III (n = 10) had continuous epidural analgesia. Initial levels of ir-EP were similar in all three groups. Patients without any medication and patients on pethidine showed a significant rise in ir-EP in late labor and at delivery. Epidural analgesia was characterized by constant levels of ir-EP during labor and an insignificant rise at delivery.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D004723:Endorphins / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D008614:Meperidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D008614:Meperidine