title: [Study on the relationship between endogenous opioid peptides and fetal distress].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role of endogenous opioid peptides (EOP) in the fetal distress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty three patients with fetal distress (fetal distress group) and 40 healthy pregnant women (control group) in their third trimester were studied. The concentrations of plasma EOP (beta-endorphin, dorphin A(1 - 13) and leu-enkephalin) were measured by radioimmunoassay. Umbilical artery pH, PO(2) and PCO(2) were also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of umbilical artery plasma EOP (beta-endorphin, dorphin A(1 - 13) and leu-enkephalin) in fetal distress group were (453 +/- 68) ng/L, (242 +/- 33) ng/L, and (498 +/- 68) ng/L, respectively. In control group, the levels of EOP were (251 +/- 39) ng/L, (103 +/- 22) ng/L, and (322 +/- 40) ng/L, respectively. The levels of umbilical artery plasma EOP (beta-endorphin, dorphin A(1 - 13) and leu-enkephalin) in fetal distress group were significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.01,P < 0.05). The umbilical artery blood gas analysis: pH was (7.0 +/- 0.1), PO(2) was (1.7 +/- 0.6) kPa, PCO(2) was (8.9 +/- 0.7) kPa; the levels of beta-endorphin and dorphin A(1 - 13) were negatively correlated to pH and PO(2) in umbilical artery plasma (P < 0.01; P < 0.05), significant correlation was found between the EOP and PCO(2) (P < 0.05). In fetal distress group, the levels of maternal plasma EOP were (40 +/- 13) ng/L, (64 +/- 16) ng/L and (219 +/- 40) ng/L respectively. In control group, the levels were (37 +/- 9) ng/L, (59 +/- 15) ng/L and (199 +/- 37) ng/L respectively. There was no statistical difference in the levels of maternal plasma EOP between the control group and fetal distress group (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fetal distress was associated with EOP, the changes of EOP levels in umbilical artery plasma may play an important role in the pathophysiological changes in fetal distress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Changzheng Hospital of the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China.
authors.forename: Dian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Hang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Xinru
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhijun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004399:Dynorphins / Q000097:blood; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D018847:Opioid Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D018847:Opioid Peptides; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D004399:Dynorphins