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Research Article| Volume 134, ISSUE 6, P681-684, July 15, 1979

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Effect of stress during labor on the concentration of cortisol and estriol in maternal plasma

  • J.M. Maltau
    Correspondence
    Reprint requests: Dr. J. M. Maltau, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rikshopitalet, Oslo 1,Norway.
    Affiliations
    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rikshospitalet Oslo, Norway

    Department of Anesthesiology, Rikshospitalet Oslo, Norway.

    Department of Clinical Chemistry, Rikshopitalet Oslo, Norway.
    Search for articles by this author
  • O.V. Eielsen
    Affiliations
    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rikshospitalet Oslo, Norway

    Department of Anesthesiology, Rikshospitalet Oslo, Norway.

    Department of Clinical Chemistry, Rikshopitalet Oslo, Norway.
    Search for articles by this author
  • K.T. Stokke
    Affiliations
    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rikshospitalet Oslo, Norway

    Department of Anesthesiology, Rikshospitalet Oslo, Norway.

    Department of Clinical Chemistry, Rikshopitalet Oslo, Norway.
    Search for articles by this author
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9378(79)90650-1
Effect of stress during labor on the concentration of cortisol and estriol in maternal plasma
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      Abstract

      The effect of stress during labor on the plasma concentration of cortisol, unconjugated estriol, and human chorionic somatomammotropin was studied in 15 healthy primiparous women. According to the method of pain relief the parturients were divided into two groups. One group was given continuous epidural analgesia and the other group received pethidine, diazepam, and nitrous oxide/oxygen in response to pain. In the most stressed nonepidural group there was a significant rise in the cortisol level during labor and the estriol concentration fell significantly. In the epidural group no significant changes were observed with respect to the concentration of either cortisol or estriol. These results give further support to the hypothesis that severe maternal stress may lead to a reduced concentration of estriol in maternal plasma.
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      Reference

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      Article info

      Publication history

      Accepted: September 13, 1978
      Received: May 24, 1978

      Identification

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9378(79)90650-1

      Copyright

      © 1979 The C. V. Mosby Co. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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