title: Mass spectrometry methods measured androgen and estrogen concentrations during pregnancy and in newborns of mothers with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little is known about the aetiology of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Some suggest that elevated maternal androgens during gestation play a causative role. This implies placental passage of androgens during pregnancy. The aim of this study is to compare androgen and estrogen concentrations in maternal serum during pregnancy and in umbilical cord blood, between mothers with PCOS and their offspring compared to controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Maternal blood samples were collected around 20 weeks of gestation and at delivery. Umbilical cord blood was also taken at delivery. Androgens (testosterone (T), androstenedione (ADION), dehydroepiandrostenedione (DHEA)) and estrogens (estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), estriol (E3)) were measured using the liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 20 weeks of gestation: T (P=0.019) and ADION (P=0.034) were higher in the PCOS mothers (pregnant with a girl), whereas DHEA, E1, E2, and E3 were not different. Maternal concentration at birth: T (P=0.004) and ADION (P=0.009) were also higher in the subgroup of PCOS mothers that were pregnant with a girl compared to the girl pregnancy controls. DHEA, E1, E2 and E3 were not different. In umbilical cord blood, no differences were found for T, ADION, DHEA, E2, E3, and AMH between the PCOS mothers and the controls respectively. E1 was lower in girls from PCOS mothers (P=0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite elevated maternal androgen concentrations during pregnancy in PCOS mothers, offspring showed no signs of elevated androgen concentrations in cord blood at birth using the latest highly specific LC-MS/MS methods.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Gebouw Zuid, Amstelveenseweg 601, 1081 JC Amsterdam, The NetherlandsARUP Institute for Clinical and Experimental PathologySalt Lake City, Utah, USADepartment of PathologyUniversity of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USADepartment of MedicineUniversity of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USAHomerton Fertility CentreHomerton University Hospital, London, UK m.caanen@vumc.nl.
authors.forename: Mirte R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Caanen
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Gebouw Zuid, Amstelveenseweg 601, 1081 JC Amsterdam, The NetherlandsARUP Institute for Clinical and Experimental PathologySalt Lake City, Utah, USADepartment of PathologyUniversity of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USADepartment of MedicineUniversity of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USAHomerton Fertility CentreHomerton University Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Esther A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kuijper
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Gebouw Zuid, Amstelveenseweg 601, 1081 JC Amsterdam, The NetherlandsARUP Institute for Clinical and Experimental PathologySalt Lake City, Utah, USADepartment of PathologyUniversity of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USADepartment of MedicineUniversity of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USAHomerton Fertility CentreHomerton University Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Hompes
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Gebouw Zuid, Amstelveenseweg 601, 1081 JC Amsterdam, The NetherlandsARUP Institute for Clinical and Experimental PathologySalt Lake City, Utah, USADepartment of PathologyUniversity of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USADepartment of MedicineUniversity of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USAHomerton Fertility CentreHomerton University Hospital, London, UK Division of Reproductive MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Gebouw Zuid, Amstelveenseweg 601, 1081 JC Amsterdam, The NetherlandsARUP Institute for Clinical and Experimental PathologySalt Lake City, Utah, USADepartment of PathologyUniversity of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USADepartment of MedicineUniversity of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USAHomerton Fertility CentreHomerton University Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Mark M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kushnir
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Gebouw Zuid, Amstelveenseweg 601, 1081 JC Amsterdam, The NetherlandsARUP Institute for Clinical and Experimental PathologySalt Lake City, Utah, USADepartment of PathologyUniversity of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USADepartment of MedicineUniversity of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USAHomerton Fertility CentreHomerton University Hospital, London, UK Division of Reproductive MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Gebouw Zuid, Amstelveenseweg 601, 1081 JC Amsterdam, The NetherlandsARUP Institute for Clinical and Experimental PathologySalt Lake City, Utah, USADepartment of PathologyUniversity of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USADepartment of MedicineUniversity of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USAHomerton Fertility CentreHomerton University Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Alan L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rockwood
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Gebouw Zuid, Amstelveenseweg 601, 1081 JC Amsterdam, The NetherlandsARUP Institute for Clinical and Experimental PathologySalt Lake City, Utah, USADepartment of PathologyUniversity of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USADepartment of MedicineUniversity of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USAHomerton Fertility CentreHomerton University Hospital, London, UK Division of Reproductive MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Gebouw Zuid, Amstelveenseweg 601, 1081 JC Amsterdam, The NetherlandsARUP Institute for Clinical and Experimental PathologySalt Lake City, Utah, USADepartment of PathologyUniversity of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USADepartment of MedicineUniversity of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USAHomerton Fertility CentreHomerton University Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Wayne A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Meikle
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Gebouw Zuid, Amstelveenseweg 601, 1081 JC Amsterdam, The NetherlandsARUP Institute for Clinical and Experimental PathologySalt Lake City, Utah, USADepartment of PathologyUniversity of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USADepartment of MedicineUniversity of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USAHomerton Fertility CentreHomerton University Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Homburg
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Gebouw Zuid, Amstelveenseweg 601, 1081 JC Amsterdam, The NetherlandsARUP Institute for Clinical and Experimental PathologySalt Lake City, Utah, USADepartment of PathologyUniversity of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USADepartment of MedicineUniversity of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USAHomerton Fertility CentreHomerton University Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Cornelis B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Lambalk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004964:Estriol / Q000097:blood; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood*; D004970:Estrone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D004967:Estrogens; D004970:Estrone; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D004964:Estriol