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Maternal estradiol and progesterone concentrations among singleton spontaneous pregnancies during the first trimester

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Abstract

Background

Pregnancy hormonal milieu represents a crucial determinant of fetal outcome. We aim to determine 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (PGT) concentrations in spontaneous pregnancies during the first trimester. In addition, we aim to determine E2 concentrations as a function of gestational age (GA) and PGT.

Methods

Between November 2015 and March 2017, 104 healthy women of at least 18 years undergoing medical consultation for voluntary interruption of pregnancy were enrolled in an observational study at University Hospital ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy. Only singleton pregnancies between 5+0 and 13+6 weeks of gestation were eligible. First trimester ultrasound scans were performed for dating and one fasting venous blood sample was collected for E2 and PGT determinations.

Results

E2 and PGT concentrations steadily increased according to GA. The correlation between E2 on a logarithmic scale and PGT concentrations was expressed by the following equation, explaining 12.6% of E2 variance: logE2 = 2.57 + 0.1 × PGT, (r = 0.34, p < 0.001). By performing a multivariable linear regression analysis adjusted for variables significantly correlated with E2 concentrations, we obtained a model explaining the 53.5% of E2 variance. The final equation to determine E2 concentrations among Caucasian women was: logE2 = 1.96 + 0.01 × GA + 0.004 × PGT.

Conclusions

Gestational week-specific reference intervals are reported for maternal E2 and PGT concentrations during early pregnancy, further providing a model for E2 assessment in this period. This will represent a starting point for further evaluations between twin and ART pregnancies, as well as to potentially improve pregnancy outcome and future health of the offspring.

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Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Hospital “L. Sacco”, University of Milan, via GB Grassi 74, 20157, Milan, Italy

    E. Grossi, F. Parisi & V. M. Savasi

  2. Centre for Fetal Research Giorgio Pardi, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    E. Grossi, F. Parisi & V. M. Savasi

  3. Medical Statistics, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Hospital “L. Sacco”, via GB Grassi 74, 20157, Milan, Italy

    P. Duca

Authors
  1. E. Grossi
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  2. F. Parisi
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  4. V. M. Savasi
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Correspondence to E. Grossi.

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest in preparing this article.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Grossi, E., Parisi, F., Duca, P. et al. Maternal estradiol and progesterone concentrations among singleton spontaneous pregnancies during the first trimester. J Endocrinol Invest 42, 633–638 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-018-0961-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-018-0961-6

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