Maternal plasma and amniotic fluid 17 beta-estradiol, progesterone and cortisol concentrations in women with successfully and unsuccessfully treated preterm labor.

Maternal plasma and amniotic fluid (AF) were obtained for measurement of 17 beta-estradiol, progesterone and cortisol concentrations from 40 patients with preterm labor and intact membranes at 28-32 weeks of gestation: 20 delivered preterm and the remaining 20 patients responded to tocolytic treatment and delivered at term. Maternal plasma and AF concentrations of these hormones were measured with specific commercially available radioimmunoassay kits. Maternal plasma and AF 17 beta-estradiol concentrations were significantly higher in women who delivered preterm than in those who delivered at term, 8.0 ng/ml vs 3.5 ng/ml and 0.85 ng/ml vs. 0.6 ng/ml, respectively. No significant differences were found between groups in maternal plasma and AF progesterone concentrations. Maternal plasma cortisol concentrations were higher in the preterm delivery group than in the term group (235 ng/ml vs. 55 ng/ml, respectively). No significant differences were found in AF cortisol concentrations between groups.