Maternal and cord plasma concentrations of β-lipotrophin, β-endorphin and γ-lipotrophin at delivery; effect of analgesia |
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| Authors: | A. J. F. BROWNING Research Registrar W. R. BUTT Professor of Endocrinology S. S. LYNCH Principal Biochemist R. A. SHAKESPEAR Biochemist J. SELWYN CRAWFORD Consultant Anaesthetist |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Endocrinology, Birmingham and Midland Hospital for Women, Showell Green Lane, Sparkhill, Birmingham B11 4HL;Birmingham Maternity Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TG, UK |
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| Abstract: | Summary. Maternal venous plasma concentrations of β-LPH, β-EP and γ-LPH were compared in (i) patients undergoing vaginal delivery, 11 with an epidural block and 13 with pethidine and nitrous oxide or no analgesics; (ii) patients delivered by caesarean section, 7 under epidural block and 8 under general anaesthesia. Patients delivered by either method under epidural block had significantly lower levels of all three peptides than those receiving no epidural. There were significant negative correlations between umbilical vein β-LPH, β-EP and γ-LPH concentrations and umbilical artery pH and positive correlations between β-LPH and β-EP but not γ-LPH and cord P CO2 in 29 patients. There was no relation between cord levels of any of the three peptides and the method of analgesia or the route of delivery. Although concentrations of all three peptides were closely correlated to one another in either maternal or cord plasma, there was no relationship between maternal and fetal levels. |
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