A longitudinal study of circulating progesterone, oestradiol, hCG and hPL during pregnancy in type 1 diabetic mothers

Summary Serum progesterone, oestradiol, human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and human placental lactogen (hPL) were determined serially throughout 27 pregnancies in insulin-dependent diabetic patients from Newcastle (UK), 15 such patients from Stockholm (Sweden) and in 69 normal women having uncomplicated pregnancies. Mean progesterone, oestradiol and hCG concentrations were somewhat higher in the diabetic women during the third trimester but hPL values were not different from normal. The increased hormone concentrations did not relate to the increased birthweights or placental weights in the diabetic women. It is suggested that the usual physiological endocrine changes during normal pregnancy are relatively undisturbed by insulin-dependent diabetes or the degree of diabetes control achieved.