title: Endocrinology of pregnancy: consequences for the diagnosis and treatment of pregnancy disorders.
abstract: Placental human chorionic gonadotropin and corpus luteum secretion of progesterone and oestradiol are the main endocrine events at the beginning of pregnancy, whilst the luteo-placental shift is an important step during the later stages. Progesterone not only affects decidualisation, but is the major immunological determinant and controls uterine contractibility and cervical competence. These properties all contribute considerably towards the correct development of pregnancy and delivery at term.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Forschung und Fortbildung, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Hufelandstr 55, D-45122 Essen, Germany. schindler@uni-essen.de
authors.forename: Adolf E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Schindler
mesh_terms: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000502:physiology; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000378:metabolism; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011372:Progestins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D006728:Hormones; D011372:Progestins; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol