title: Origin of first trimester 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels as determined in pregnancies by donor oocyte fertilization.
abstract: The study presented herein measured 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) levels in women with ovarian failure who conceived by transfer of embryos which resulted from donor oocytes fertilization. A significant increase in 17-OHP during the first trimester was seen compared to baseline nonpregnant levels. The 17-OHP levels increased from a baseline average of 47.7 +/- 9.7 ng/dl to a first-trimester average of 175.8 +/- 80.6 ng/dl in the donor oocytes recipients vs. 63.0 +/- 38.0 ng/dl baseline to 295.0 +/- 83.9 ng/dl first-trimester in the control group. Initially these data may appear to contradict previous findings demonstrating a lack of 17-OHP secretion by the first-trimester placenta. However, by comparing the first-trimester progesterone (P) levels of normal pregnant women, and also measuring 17-OHP in patients with natural menopause and surgical menopause given exogenous P we concluded the following about the origin of first-trimester sera 17-OHP levels: hydroxylation of P to 17-OHP by the ovaries, some secretion by the first trimester placenta; and also increased adrenal conversion of P to 17-OHP. Contributing to the total serum 17-OHP level is the fact that there is cross-reactivity with P to 17-OHP.
authors.affiliation: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Check
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Barnea
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Shapse
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lurie
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lauer
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Vetter
mesh_terms: D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones / Q000097:blood*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones; D011374:Progesterone; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone