title: Changes in 13, 14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2alpha levels in saliva during pregnancy, labor and the postpartum period.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine changes in the levels of 13, 14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGFM) in saliva during pregnancy, labor and the postpartum period, and to evaluate the relationship between cervical dilatation or contraction interval and salivary PGFM levels during labor.
  
  
  METHODS
  This longitudinal study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics in a hospital in Japan that has approximately 500 deliveries per year. Maternal and neonatal data were obtained from medical records. Saliva samples were collected during pregnancy (from 35 to 36 weeks gestation), labor and the postpartum period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-four healthy pregnant women were recruited and data from 30 subjects were analyzed. Salivary PGFM levels were almost constant during pregnancy, increased as labor progressed and decreased after delivery. Salivary PGFM levels during contraction intervals of 1-2 min were significantly higher than those when contraction intervals were 7-8, 5-6 or 3-4 min.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PGFM levels in saliva significantly increased with labor progression, remained at the highest level until delivery of the placenta, and decreased after delivery. Salivary PGFM levels are related not to cervical dilatation but to contraction interval. It was found that salivary PGFM levels reflected the contraction status of the uterus as delivery progressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery and Women's Health, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. kae-tky@umin.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kae
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haruna
authors.forename: Masayo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuzaki
authors.forename: Kyouichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sekine
authors.forename: Sachiyo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murashima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007747:Labor Stage, First; D007749:Labor Stage, Third; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D014590:Uterine Contraction
chemical_list: C051536:13,14-dihydroxy-15-ketoprostaglandin F2alpha; D015237:Dinoprost