Saliva estriol levels in women with and without prenatal antidepressant treatment.
BACKGROUND
Prenatal antidepressant use has been associated with shorter pregnancy duration and an increased risk for preterm birth. This study measured saliva levels of estriol, a hormone that increases exponentially in the few weeks before spontaneous labor, in pregnant women with and without antidepressant treatment.


METHODS
Saliva estriol levels were obtained across the day at three time points during pregnancy in 77 subjects with a history of DSM-IV major depressive disorder (MDD) who were treated with antidepressants in pregnancy (Group 1), a history of DSM-IV MDD who were not treated or had limited exposure to antidepressants during pregnancy (Group 2), and a normal control group (Group 3).


RESULTS
Mean estriol levels in the second half of pregnancy were significantly higher for Group 1 (history of MDD, on meds) than Group 2 (history of MDD, off meds) or Group 3 (control).


CONCLUSIONS
Prenatal antidepressant use was associated with significantly higher saliva estriol levels in the second half of pregnancy. Whether estriol reflects a causal mechanism by which women on antidepressants have shorter pregnancy duration remains to be further studied.
Suri
Rita
R
Mood Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA. rsuri@mednet.ucla.edu
Hellemann
Gerhard
G
Cohen
Lee
L
Aquino
Ana
A
Altshuler
Lori
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004964:Estriol / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D055815:Young Adult
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D004964:Estriol