title: Raised nitric oxide levels may cause atonic postpartum hemorrhage in women with anemia during pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the association of hemoglobin (Hb) and plasma nitrite (PN) concentrations on admission to the delivery ward with the occurrence of atonic postpartum hemorrhage (PPH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 319 women admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dayrout General Hospital, Assiut, Egypt, for delivery in July 2010, 200, who were not considered to be at risk of atonic PPH, were eligible for inclusion. Plasma levels of Hb and nitrite were measured on admission. The third stage of labor was actively managed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 22 participants had significantly raised PN levels (P<0.001), 12 of whom developed PPH-with Hb levels of 9 g/dL or less and nitric oxide (NO) levels of 180 μM/L or greater. The other 10 women underwent over 6 hours of stressful labor prior to hospital admission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even moderate anemia can raise levels of NO and enhance its biologic effects, which in turn can result in uterine muscle relaxation and atonic PPH. Preventing or treating anemia during pregnancy could avoid these complications.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternity University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt. mohammedsoltan54@yahoo.com
authors: Mohamed H
authors: MH
authors: Soltan
authors: Emad M
authors: EM
authors: Ibrahim
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Tawfek
authors: Hany
authors: H
authors: Hassan
authors: Fady
authors: F
authors: Farag
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000150:complications*; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D008875:Middle Aged; D009215:Myometrium / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014593:Uterine Inertia / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D009573:Nitrites; D009569:Nitric Oxide