Biomaterial Database

Abnormal umbilical artery Doppler waveforms and cord blood corticotropin-releasing hormone. 1996

W B Giles, and M McLean, and J J Davies, and R Smith

Maternal Health Research Centre, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, Australia.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether placental secretion of corticotropin-releasing hormone into the fetal circulation is increased in pregnancies complicated by umbilical-placental vascular insufficiency. METHODS Twenty women with abnormal Doppler umbilical artery flow velocity waveforms and six women with uncomplicated term pregnancies and normal umbilical artery flow velocity waveforms had cord blood concentrations of corticotropin-releasing hormone, ACTH, cortisol, and beta-hCG estimated. RESULTS The mean cord blood corticotropin-releasing hormone concentration was significantly higher in pregnancies with abnormal umbilical artery flow velocity waveforms than in normal pregnancies (108 +/- 27 versus 24 +/- 8 pg/mL, P = .019). Elevated cord blood corticotropin-releasing hormone levels were seen in the abnormal group regardless of the presence or absence of preeclampsia or fetal growth restriction. There were no significant differences in cord blood cortisol, ACTH, or beta-hCG concentrations. CONCLUSIONS The concentration of corticotropin-releasing hormone in the fetal circulation is significantly increased in pregnancies complicated by abnormal umbilical artery flow velocity waveforms. This may represent a stress-responsive compensatory mechanism in the human placenta.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011249	Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular	The co-occurrence of pregnancy and a cardiovascular disease. The disease may precede or follow FERTILIZATION and it may or may not have a deleterious effect on the pregnant woman or FETUS.	Cardiovascular Pregnancy Complications,Complications, Cardiovascular Pregnancy,Pregnancy, Cardiovascular Complications,Cardiovascular Pregnancy Complication,Complication, Cardiovascular Pregnancy,Pregnancies, Cardiovascular Complications,Pregnancy Complication, Cardiovascular
D003346	Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone	A peptide of about 41 amino acids that stimulates the release of ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC HORMONE. CRH is synthesized by neurons in the PARAVENTRICULAR NUCLEUS of the HYPOTHALAMUS. After being released into the pituitary portal circulation, CRH stimulates the release of ACTH from the PITUITARY GLAND. CRH can also be synthesized in other tissues, such as PLACENTA; ADRENAL MEDULLA; and TESTIS.	ACTH-Releasing Hormone,CRF-41,Corticotropin-Releasing Factor,Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone-41,ACTH-Releasing Factor,CRF (ACTH),Corticoliberin,Corticotropin-Releasing Factor-41,ACTH Releasing Factor,ACTH Releasing Hormone,Corticotropin Releasing Factor,Corticotropin Releasing Factor 41,Corticotropin Releasing Hormone,Corticotropin Releasing Hormone 41
D005260	Female		Females
D005312	Fetal Blood	Blood of the fetus. Exchange of nutrients and waste between the fetal and maternal blood occurs via the PLACENTA. The cord blood is blood contained in the umbilical vessels (UMBILICAL CORD) at the time of delivery.	Cord Blood,Umbilical Cord Blood,Blood, Cord,Blood, Fetal,Blood, Umbilical Cord,Bloods, Cord,Bloods, Fetal,Bloods, Umbilical Cord,Cord Blood, Umbilical,Cord Bloods,Cord Bloods, Umbilical,Fetal Bloods,Umbilical Cord Bloods
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D014469	Umbilical Arteries	Specialized arterial vessels in the umbilical cord. They carry waste and deoxygenated blood from the FETUS to the mother via the PLACENTA. In humans, there are usually two umbilical arteries but sometimes one.	Arteries, Umbilical,Artery, Umbilical,Umbilical Artery
D016216	Ultrasonography, Prenatal	The visualization of tissues during pregnancy through recording of the echoes of ultrasonic waves directed into the body. The procedure may be applied with reference to the mother or the fetus and with reference to organs or the detection of maternal or fetal disease.	Fetal Ultrasonography,Prenatal Diagnosis, Ultrasonic,Ultrasonography, Fetal,Diagnosis, Prenatal Ultrasonic,Diagnosis, Ultrasonic Prenatal,Prenatal Ultrasonic Diagnosis,Prenatal Ultrasonography,Ultrasonic Diagnosis, Prenatal,Ultrasonic Prenatal Diagnosis,Diagnoses, Prenatal Ultrasonic,Diagnoses, Ultrasonic Prenatal,Prenatal Diagnoses, Ultrasonic,Prenatal Ultrasonic Diagnoses,Ultrasonic Diagnoses, Prenatal,Ultrasonic Prenatal Diagnoses