The relationship between serum concentration of free testosterone and pre-eclampsia.

INTRODUCTION

Hyperandrogenism may be implicated in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia. We hypothesised that there may be a difference between the levels of testosterone in pregnant women complicated with pre-eclampsia and those of matched women without this complication.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A case-control study conducted in Tehran, Iran between January and June 2006 included 20 women with moderate to severe pre-eclampsia and 20 normotensive pregnant women without complications who were matched for age, body mass index and gravity. Maternal levels of free testosterone was measured in the two groups and compared.

RESULTS

Free testosterone levels were significantly higher in the pre-eclamptic group (mean = 1.97, SD = 0.58, median = 1.90 ng/dL) than in the control group (mean = 0.58, SD = 0.29, median=0.50 ng/dL) (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

An increase in serum free testosterone concentration may be considered an important risk factor for pre-eclampsia and might be implicated in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia.