title: Reference ranges for cortisol and α-amylase in mother and newborn saliva samples at different perinatal and postnatal periods.
abstract: This paper describes a reliable analytical method based on Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry to determine cortisol in saliva samples from healthy mothers (n=87) and newborns (n=65) at different time points: (i) 38 weeks of gestation, (ii) in the immediate postnatal period (48h) after a term delivery and, (iii) 3 months after delivery. The procedure is characterized by a simple sample treatment employing a sample volume of 25μL. In addition to this, salivary α-amylase was determined using a commercial kit. We have proposed potential reference ranges in saliva for cortisol (0.7-35nmolL(-1)) and α-amylase (2-500UmL(-1)) in mothers, and for cortisol (0.1-56nmolL(-1)) and α-amylase (0.1-500UmL(-1)) in newborn infants. In addition, statistical differences between the two sensitive population groups (mothers and newborns) at the perinatal and postnatal periods were studied. A lower concentration for maternal cortisol was found at 38 weeks of gestation than at 48h (p=0.048) or 3 months after delivery (p=0.021). Similar results were found for the α-amylase determinations. Hence, higher concentrations than could be expected from a chronic stress marker were found at 3 months after delivery than at 38 weeks of gestation (p<0.001) or 48h after delivery (p<0.001). We conclude that this analytical method could be applied to further clinical research on perinatal and postnatal stress, such as threatened preterm labor and/or parenting stress, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Research Group, Health Research Institute La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Blanco
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, University & Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Máximo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vento
authors.affiliation: Woman Health Unit, University & Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Diago
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Research Group, Health Research Institute La Fe, Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: m.consuelo.chafer@uv.es.
authors.forename: Consuelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cháfer-Pericás
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011181:Postnatal Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012016:Reference Values; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D055291:Salivary alpha-Amylases / Q000032:analysis*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D055291:Salivary alpha-Amylases; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Cortisol; Perinatal; Saliva; Stress; α-Amylase