Carbohydrate intolerance: its influence on maternal and fetal levels of cortisol and cortisone
Chattoraj, S.C.; Carroll, C.J.; Turner, A.K.; Gillespie, L.; Pinkus, J.L.; Charles, D.
Obstetrics and Gynecology 44(5): 646-656
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-7844 PMID: 4422809 Document Number: 77696
Maternal, umbilical arterial and umbilical venous plasma cortisol and cortisone were measured at vaginal and abdominal deliveries in 3 groups of patients: 26 not obese with no history of diabetes; 6 who developed gestational diabetes and 31 with proven diabetes mellitus. In the third trimester cortisol and cortisone values did not differ between the groups. At delivery values for both steroids were higher in the diabetic than in normal women. In the normal mothers, cortisol values were higher in the umbilical artery and cortisone higher in the vein for both modes of delivery; in the diabetics the arteriovenous difference and values for cortisol were similar to normal but cortisone values were much greater than normal during vaginal delivery, and in all instances were higher in the umbilical artery.