title: Effect of maternal anxiety on maternal serum and fetal cord blood cortisol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prenatal exposure to maternal anxiety and inappropriate levels of glucocorticoids may influence intrauterine growth and affect later health outcomes. We examined the relationship between maternal anxiety, maternal serum, and fetal cord blood cortisol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-four pregnant women with gestational age above 37 weeks admitted for elective caesarian section were studied. The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used to assess maternal anxiety. Maternal blood was sampled immediately before caesarean section. Cord blood sample was taken immediately after birth. Multiple regression analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maternal trait anxiety score, maternal serum cortisol, and neonatal weight were associated with the fetal cord blood cortisol (r = 0.21, P = 0.04). Bivariate correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between maternal trait anxiety and fetal cord blood cortisol (r = 0.21, P = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggested that high maternal trait anxiety increases fetus cord blood cortisol and may regulate fetal growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors.forename: Farahnaz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Keshavarzi
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Farnia
authors.forename: Katayoun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yazdchi
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Najafi
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.forename: Hafez
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bajoghli
authors.forename: Anisodoleh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nankali
authors.forename: Habib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Salmanzadeh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: anxiety; cortisol; fetal blood; maternal; pregnancy