Maternal Plasma and Urinary Hormone Levels During and After a Successful Abdominal Pregnancy

Abstract

Summary In a successful abdominal pregnancy, urinary oestriol levels were about the fifth centile, but other hormone concentrations suggested that placental function was normal until 32 weeks gestation. After that, plasma oestrogen concentrations levelled off and plasma placental lactogen concentrations declined. Pre‐eclampsia developed at 34 weeks and necessitated the delivery at 36 weeks and 2 days of a live normal female infant by laparotomy. The placenta was not removed. All hormone levels fell rapidly during the first weeks of the puerperium and then more slowly during the next six weeks to non‐pregnancy levels. Plasma progesterone, urinary pregnanediol, and plasma oestradiol were the slowest to return to non‐pregnant levels.

Follow up of the regression of the placenta left in situ in an advanced abdominal pregnancy using the Cavalieri method

“…The decrease in serum β‐hCG levels was significantly correlated with the decrease in placental volume ( r 2 = 0.525, P < 0.05). France and Jackson found that placental production of progesterone and estradiol could continue up to 7 weeks postpartum in abdominal pregnancies 14 . The levels of these hormones were not measured in the present study.…”

A Successful Pregnancy Following Total Hysterectomy

“…There was a rapid and sustained improvement in the patient's general condition. Blood samples were collected at regular intervals during the pregnancy and puerperium for hormone analyses which are the subject of a further report (France and Jackson, 1980).…”

Abdominal Ectopic Pregnancy: A Diagnostic Dilemma

“…It has been estimated that the placenta can remain functional for approximately 50 days from the operation, and total regression of placental function is usually complete within 4 months. 17 Complications may include ileus, peritonitis, abscess formation, prolonged hospital stay, and fever. The use of prophylactic methrotrexate is a matter of debate with some favoring its use for subsequent placental shrinkage while others not who advocate that rapid and major degradation of the abdominal placental tissue can result in the accumulation of necrotic tissue, which is an ideal medium for bacterial growth and sepsis.…”