title: A study of maternal plasma beta-endorphin in pre-eclamptic women during labour.
abstract: This prospective study was undertaken to determine the maternal plasma beta-endorphin levels in pre-eclamptic women during labour and to explore any correlation between the levels and the severity of pre-eclampsia. A total of 50 primiparous women at term were recruited over a period of 5 years. Twenty-five with pre-eclampsia and 25 healthy women considered as a control group. The mean concentration of maternal plasma beta-endorphin in pre-eclamptic group (22.73+/-8.02 pmol/l) was significantly lower (p<0.001) than that of the control group (48.38+/-5.94 pmol/l). A highly significant (p<0.001) negative correlation was found between maternal plasma beta-endorphin levels and both systolic and diastolic blood pressures in pre-eclamptic group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norfolk, UK. rabeih@elghorori.fsnet.co.uk
authors.forename: M R M
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Elghorori
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000097:blood*; D010298:Parity; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001615:beta-Endorphin