title: Salivary progesterone and estriol among pregnant women treated with 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate or placebo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of the study was to determine whether salivary progesterone (P) or estriol (E3) concentration at 16-20 weeks' gestation predicts preterm birth or the response to 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17OHPC) and whether 17OHPC treatment affected the trajectory of salivary P and E3 as pregnancy progressed.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a secondary analysis of a clinical trial of 17OHPC to prevent preterm birth. Baseline saliva was assayed for P and E3. Weekly salivary samples were obtained from 40 women who received 17OHPC and 40 who received placebo in a multicenter randomized trial of 17OHPC to prevent recurrent preterm delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both low and high baseline saliva P and E3 were associated with a slightly increased risk of preterm birth. However, 17OHPC prevented preterm birth comparably, regardless of baseline salivary hormone concentrations. 17OHPC did not alter the trajectory of salivary P over pregnancy, but it significantly blunted the rise in salivary E3 as well as the rise in the E3/P ratio.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  17OHPC flattened the trajectory of E3 in the second half of pregnancy, suggesting that the drug influences the fetoplacental unit.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Klebanoff
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Meis
authors.forename: Mitchell P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Dombrowski
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Atef H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Moawad
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Northen
authors.forename: Baha M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Sibai
authors.forename: Jay D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Iams
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Varner
authors.forename: Steve N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Caritis
authors.forename: Mary J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.forename: Kenneth J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Leveno
authors.forename: Menachem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miodovnik
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.forename: Ronald J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wapner
authors.forename: Marshall
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.forename: Brian M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Mercer
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ramin
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Thorp
authors.forename: Alan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Peaceman
mesh_terms: D000077713:17 alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate; D000328:Adult; D004964:Estriol / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000517:prevention & control*; D021041:Placental Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000032:analysis*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones; D000077713:17 alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate; D011374:Progesterone; D004964:Estriol