VERMINDERTE OESTROGEN-AUSSCHEIDUNG IN DER SCHWANGERSCHAFT NACH SUBTOTALER ADRENALEKTOMIE

Abstract

ABSTRACT The uneventful course of pregnancy in a patient who had undergone subtotal adrenalectomy for Cushing's Syndrome 16 months prior to the onset of pregnancy is reported. The urinary steroid excretion was followed throughout pregnancy; during the last three weeks before delivery daily determinations were carried out. The 17-ketosteroid output was somewhat elevated in this period as compared with non-pregnant values, while no change in the excretion of 17-hydroxysteroids was observed; the pregnanediol values were within the low normal range for the relevant periods of pregnancy. The most striking feature was a significantly low excretion of oestriol, oestrone and oestradiol-17β throughout the last three weeks ante partum, the output of the total oestrogens did not exceed 5 mg per day. The results are discussed with regard to the rôle of the maternal and foetal adrenals in placental steroidogenesis.