Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate on uterine artery flow velocity waveforms in term pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the interrelation between estrogen synthesis by the fetoplacental unit and uteroplacental hemodynamics in term pregnancy.


METHODS
Transvaginal color Doppler flow imaging and pulsed Doppler ultrasonographic assessments were made on ten normal full-term pregnant women before and 3, 5, 10, 30, and 60 minutes after the administration of a 200-mg intravenous dose of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHAS) in 20 mL of 5% dextrose. Ten normal full-term pregnant women received 20 mL of 5% dextrose as controls. The pulsatility index (PI) values for the uterine artery, heart rate, and mean arterial pressure were recorded. Plasma estradiol (E2) was measured before and 10 minutes after the infusion.


RESULTS
In the DHAS group, uterine artery PI decreased from baseline by 26% (P < .05) after 5 minutes, and the mean reduction was 36% (P < .05) after 10 minutes and 15% (P < .05) after 30 minutes. The PI returned to the baseline value 60 minutes later. In the control group, there was no change in uterine artery PI. No change was found in heart rate or mean arterial blood pressure in the control or DHAS groups. The mean plasma E2 increased from 22.3 +/- 6.6 to 56.2 +/- 24.1 ng/mL (P < .05) 10 minutes after the infusion in DHAS subjects, whereas there was no significant change in plasma E2 in the controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate induces a significant decrease in the uterine artery PI, which suggests a possible decrease in uterine vascular impedance in term pregnancy.
Hata
T
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shimane Medical University, Izumo, Japan.
Senoh
D
D
Hata
K
K
Kitao
M
M
Masumura
S
S
D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D018617:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*
D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate