Abstract
TAKAHASHI, K., IKENO, N., HOSHIAI, H. and SUZUKI, M. The Effect of Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate on Serum Steroid Concentration in Singleton and Twin Pregnancies and Its Effect on Cervical Canal-Ripening in Singleton Pregnancies. Tohoku J. exp. Med., 1984, 142 (3), 289-298 - Each of 20 pregnant women (≥39weeks) was given an intravenous injection of various doses (50, 100, 200 and 400mg) of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHA-S) and each of 5 pregnant women (≥39weeks) was given glucose solution as a control. After the administration of DHA-S, significant increases in serum estrogen concentration, especially estradiol-17β concentration, and in the Bishop score were observed. The maximum increase in the level of estradiol-17β was significantly correlated with the doses of 50-200mg of DHA-S. However, serum levels of estrone or estriol were not dose-dependently increased by DHA-S. Since the rate of conversion of DHA-S to estrogen did not necessarily seem to be dose-dependent, there may be some limitation regarding converted doses of DHA-S. There was a significant correlation between the increase in serum estrogen concentration and the increase in the Bishop score. Two hundred mg DHA-S were administered to 4 subjects pregnant with twins. Serum estrogen concentrations in these subjects were significantly higher than those in singleton pregnancies after the administration.
