As part of a larger prospective study of the influence of environmental factors on pregnancy, birth and the fetus, chromosome examinations have been made in 34910 newborn children in Arhus over a 13-year period. Klinefelter's syndrome was found in 1 per 576 boys, XYY in 1 per 851 boys, triple-X in 1 per 947 girls and Turner's syndrome in 1 per 1893 girls. Other sex chromosome aberrations were found in 1 per 11,637 children. The total incidence of sex chromosome abnormalities was 1 per 426 children or 2.34 per 1000. The most frequent autosomal abnormalities were that of Down's syndrome with 1 per 592 children, and reciprocal translocations with 1 per 712 children. The total incidence of autosomal abnormalities was 1 per 164 children. Chromosome abnormalities were found in 276 liveborn children and in 19 fetuses, who were aborted after prenatal chromosome examination. The combined incidence of sex chromosomal and autosomal abnormalities was 1 per 118 children or 8.45 per 1000 children.
Calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcitonin (CT) in serum, and the fractional renal excretion of calcium (FECa) were determined in (1) normal pregnant women, (2) patients with preeclampsia, and (3) normal nonpregnant control subjects. Serum calcium, corrected for individual variation in serum protein, was reduced and FECa increased in the normal pregnant group when compared to the nonpregnant control group. In preeclampsia serum calcium did not differ significantly from the normal pregnant group, but FECa was considerably lower and also reduced below the level in the nonpregnant control group. PTH was slightly lower during normal pregnancy than after delivery, but did not deviate significantly from the nonpregnant control group; in preeclampsia PTH did not deviate significantly from the levels in normal pregnancy. CT was the same in the third trimester of pregnancy in both groups. Changes in serum calcium and FECa were not correlated to PTH or CT. It is concluded that both normal pregnancy and preeclampsia are accompanied by considerable alterations in calcium metabolism, that PTH and CT in both groups are mainly unchanged and at nonpregnant level, and that the increase and decrease in renal calcium excretion in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia, respectively, may be attributed to changes in kidney function.
SUMMARY Urinary excretion of prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) and F^ (PGF^), plasma concentrations of renin, aldosterone, norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) were determined during pregnancy, 5 days, 3, and 6 months after delivery in preeciampsia, normotensive pregnant, and nonpregnant control subjects. The PGE 2 was higher in normotensive pregnant control subjects than in nonpregnant subjects. In preeciampsia, PGE, was reduced to nonpregnant level. PGF^ was the same in preeciampsia and in normotensive pregnancy, but elevated when compared to the normotensive nonpregnant control group. Plasma concentrations of renin and aldosterone were increased during pregnancy, but considerably less in preeciampsia than during normotensive pregnancy. NE and E were the same as in nonpregnant subjects during both hypertensive and normotensive pregnancy. All parameters were normal 3 months after delivery. There were no correlations between PGE 2 , PGF^, plasma concentrations of renin, aldosterone, NE, or E and blood pressure level in third trimester either in preeciampsia or in normotensive pregnancy. PGE, was positively correlated to plasma concentrations of renin. It is suggested that the lack of renal PGE 2 in preeciampsia might be responsible for the decrease in renal blood flow and sodium excretion. It is hypothesized that preeciampsia is a state of prostaglandin deficiency. The changes in the renin-aldosterone system may be secondary to changes in prostaglandin concentration both in preeciampsia and normotensive pregnancy. Received March 16, 1982, revision accepted August 12, 1982 with simultaneous evaluation of urinary prostaglandin excretion, the renin-aldosterone system, and sympathetic adrenergic activity in preeciampsia and normotensive pregnancy both before and after delivery.In the present study we measured urinary excretion of prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ), prostaglandin F 2a (PGF 2 J, plasma renin concentration, plasma aldosterone concentration, plasma norepinephrine (NE) and plasma epinephrine (E) in patients with preeciampsia and in normotensive pregnant and nonpregnant control subjects. The pregnant groups were studied during pregnancy and 5 days, 3, and 6 months after delivery. To reveal possible pressor or depressor mechanisms in preeciampsia, it was our purpose to study changes in these parameters, correlations between these parameters and blood pressure, and relationships between urinary prostaglandins, the renin-aldosterone system, and the sympathetic nervous activity.
We have carried out a case-controlled study on relations between short stature (i.e. less than 156 cm tall) and problems with childbirth in Danish women. Data obtained from 182 pregnant, short women (short mothers) were compared with those obtained from a control group of 2116 pregnant women who were between 166 and 175 cm tall (control mothers). The prevalence rate for acute cesarean section was three-fold greater in short mothers than in controls, and the prevalence rate for elective cesarean section was twice as high in short mothers as in controls. Moreover, the prevalence rates of intra-uterine asphyxia, intra-uterine growth retardation and low Apgar scores were higher in babies of short mothers than in those of control mothers, despite the increased level of obstetric intervention in the former group. Since the findings show that short stature in pregnant women is an obstetrical risk factor, we recommend that it should be given attention in order to detect early signs of intra-uterine asphyxia and to apply the best form of active management of labor if necessary.
As part of an ongoing study of the influence of environmental factors on pregnancy, childbirth, and fetuses, comparisons have been made between incidences in 1969-1974 and in 1980-1982 of chromosome aberrations in liveborn children in the same area of Denmark. The incidence of chromosome aberrations in the first period was 2.6 per 1000, compared with 41. per 1000 during the latter period. However, the difference was mainly due to an increase in inversions, and this in turn was due to a difference in chromosome staining methods between the two periods. It is concluded that the Danish study and similar studies in the United States, Canada, and Scotland indicate that early detection of chromosome aberrations by chromosome examination at birth is indicated in order to be able to inform and counsel parents of children with chromosome aberrations. Chromosome examination at birth is also of importance in the diagnosis of structural inheritable chromosome aberrations and consequent family investigation and genetic counseling.
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