Plasma adenosine concentrations increase in women with hyperemesis gravidarum.
BACKGROUND
Adenosine is an important metabolic modulator and its concentrations are affected by sympathetic nerve stimulation and cytokine production. Since hyperemesis gravidarum is characterized by overactivation of sympathetic nerves and enhanced production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, plasma adenosine concentrations may be altered. The present study evaluated plasma adenosine concentrations and their relation with norepinephrine and TNF-alpha concentrations in hyperemesis gravidarum.


METHODS
Plasma concentrations of adenosine, norepinephrine, and TNF-alpha were measured in 34 healthy nonpregnant women, and 34 women with hyperemesis gravidarum and normal pregnancies, matched for age, parity and gestational week. The relationships between plasma adenosine, and norepinephrine and TNF-alpha concentrations in hyperemesis gravidarum were evaluated.


RESULTS
Mean plasma adenosine, norepinephrine, and TNF-alpha concentrations were significantly increased in women with hyperemesis gravidarum compared to those in nonpregnant and normal pregnant women (p<0.05). The increase in plasma adenosine concentrations correlated with the increase of norepinephrine and TNF-alpha in hyperemesis gravidarum (r=0.50, p<0.05 and r=0.43, p<0.05, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Adenosine is an established suppressor of excessive sympathetic nerves activation and cytokine production, so the increase in plasma adenosine in hyperemesis gravidarum might serve to counteract further progression of hyperemesis gravidarum.
Yoneyama
Yoshio
Y
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5, Sendagi, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8603, Japan. yoski-1@nms.ac.jp
Suzuki
Shunji
S
Sawa
Rintaro
R
Araki
Tsutomu
T
D000241:Adenosine / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006939:Hyperemesis Gravidarum / Q000097:blood*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000241:Adenosine; D009638:Norepinephrine