title: Maternal plasma levels of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1alpha during pregnancy and puerperium.
abstract: To study the production of antiaggregatory and vasodilatory prostacyclin (PGI2) during human pregnancy and puerperium, we measured the concentrations of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1alpha, the stable hydration product of PGI2, with specific radio-immunoassay in plasma samples from 53 women between 11 and 41 weeks of normal pregnancy, 11 puerperal women 53-60 days postpartum and 20 healthy nonpregnant control women. The levels of 6-keto-PGF1alpha did not change during the course of pregnancy, and the mean (+/- SE) levels of 6-keto-PGF1alpha during pregnancy (255.5 +/- 8.7 pg/ml) or puerperium (254.7 +/- 12.3 pg/ml) were not significantly different from the mean level of 277.7 +/- 10.6 pg/ml in the nonpregnant control women. There was no correlation between the 6-keto-PGF1alpha concentration and pregnancy week, maternal age, parity or lactation. Thus, it is evident that PGI2, as measured by its metabolite levels in maternal plasma, does not change during human gestation.
mesh_terms: D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000097:blood*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D011464:Epoprostenol