The effect of betamethasone on salivary estriol.
OBJECTIVE
Study of the degree and pattern of salivary estriol suppression after administration of betamethasone.


METHODS
A total of 26 patients with singleton pregnancies (> 24 but < 35 weeks' gestation) in preterm labor with intact membranes had salivary estriol collected prior to betamethasone administration and then daily in late afternoon to evening. All patients were receiving magnesium sulfate. Five patients received a second dose of steroids 1 week after the first. Specimens were frozen and later batch analyzed.


RESULTS
Betamethasone induced a mean 35.1 +/- 18.2% decrease in salivary estriol which reached its nadir in 1-6 days. By day 6, the salivary estriol in all patients remained suppressed. A second dose of betamethasone caused a further decrease in estriol.


CONCLUSIONS
Betamethasone suppressed salivary estriol in all patients, consistent with the effect of glucocorticoids on fetal adrenal estriol precursors. The suppression persisted for at least 1 week.
Leff
R P
RP
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Memorial Health University Medical Center, Savannah, Georgia 31403-3089, USA.
Goldkrand
J W
JW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004964:Estriol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D001623:Betamethasone; D004964:Estriol