Pregnancy Flashcards
Maternal GH in pregnancy
[decreases] placental GH replaces pituitary GH in maternal circulation, not detectable at term
Maternal TSH in pregnancy
Maternal T3/T4 in pregnancy
Maternal CRH in pregnancy - & what is different about it’s feedback?
Not suppressed by glucocorticoids (may be increased)
Detected after 15 weeks increase until term; huge increase in 3rd trimester
Likely involved in labor
-
Different feedback/stimulation than hypothalamic
- Cortisol from placenta drives CRH, CRH drives mat/fet pit
Maternal cortisol in pregnancy
- Cortisol binding protein increases in pregnancy -> total circulating cortisol increases more than free cortisol
Maternal prolactin in pregnancy
- Gradual increase across pregnancy
- At term PRL levels 10X (>200 ng/mL)
Maternal estrogens in pregnancy
[increases]
Early pregnancy: Aromatization of maternal androgens
After 20 weeks: Conversion of fetal androgens
- Maternal contribution of DHEA-S is very low
(maternal estrogen very low if fetus lacks adrenal gland)
- Fetus secretes >200 mg DHEA-S daily; >10x of mother
Maternal ACTH in pregnancy
Maternal pituitary ACTH also increased under effect of CRH produce in the cytotrophoblast
Not suppressed by glucocorticoids (may be increased)
preg is state of relative hypercortisolism
Maternal ACTH and cortisol peak in pregnancy
Delivery (increase throughout pregnancy)
CBG in pregnancy
CRH regulators (9 stimulatory, 3 inhibitory)
increased by: glucocorticoids, activin, interleukins, Vasopressin, NE, AGII, PGs, neuropeptide Y, oxytocin
decreased by: progesterone, inhibin, nitric oxide
Protects fetus from maternal increases in cortisol
Placental 11B HSD (converts cortisol to cortisone)
Tx symptomatic prolactinoma (visual disturbance) in pregnancy
- Bromocriptine -> reduce maternal and fetal circulating levels to baseline levels
- Amniotic fluid PRL is unaffected by bromocriptine
Main estrogen of pregnancy
Estriol (E3)
Estriol (E3) in pregnancy
Increases 1000x
16 precursors derived from fetal liver
High estriol implications in pregnancy
- Acute fetal hypoxia
- Multiple gestation
- Risk for preterm labor
- 21-OH CAH
Low estriol implications in pregnancy
- Impending or present fetal demise
- Adrenal hypofunction
- Placental sulfatase deficiency
- Placental aromatase deficiency
- Drug-related effects
Placental sulfatase deficiency inheritance, genetics
- X- linked (essentially all are male); 1 per 2-3000 newborn males
- Complete deletion on the gene within the X (p-region)
Placental sulfatase deficiency diagnosis
Diagnosis: low estriol in pregnancy (not used anymore), high intra-amniotic DHEA-S, normal DHEA, normal androstenedione (differentiate from CAH)
Placental sulfatase deficiency clinical presentation of fetus
Clinically: hyperkeratosis, increased scaling, corneal opacities, pyloric stenosis, cryptorchidism
Placental aromatase deficiency inheritance, genetics
Autosomal recessive; 2 mutations, aromatase gene on chromosome 15
Placental aromatase deficiency clinical implications for mother and fetus (M vs F)
- Maternal hirsutism occurs (still has some peripheral maternal aromatization if mom is not affected by aromatase mutation) – usually in second half of pregnancy, regresses after delivery
- Female fetus is virilized (ambiguous genitalia)
- Female child: hyperandrogenism, multi-cystic ovaries, hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism, absent breast development
- Male child: normal puberty, infertile (estrogen essential for spermatogenesis), no pubertal growth spurt, osteoporosis develops early
From where are Estrone (E1) and Estradiol (E2) derived in pregnancy?
Equally from maternal and fetal precursors
From where is Estetrol (E4) derived in pregnancy?
- Synthesized in the fetal liver from E2 and E3 by the two enzymes 15α- and 16α-hydroxylase
- Alternatively synthesized with 15α-hydroxylation of 16α-hydroxy-DHEA sulfate as an intermediate step
Which estrogen in pregnancy is only detectable during pregnancy?
Estetrol (E4)
Ddx of maternal hirsutism/virilization in pregnancy
- Drug/progestin exposure
- Pregnancy luteomas
- Theca-lutein cysts
- Sertoli-Leydig tumors