Laboratory tests and pregnancy

Česká verzia

Authors: prof. MUDr. L. Turecký, CSc.
Authors place of work: Ústav lekárskej chémie, biochémie a klinickej biochémie LF UK, Bratislava
Published in the journal: Prakt Gyn 2006; 10(2): 78-81

Prakt Gynek 2005; 12: 4

Summary

During pregnancy, a woman undergoes dramatic metabolic and hormonal changes. The large amounts of estrogens, progesterone, hPL and corticosteroids produced during pregnancy affect various metabolic, physiological and endocrine systems. An increase in resistance to angiotensine, predominance of lipid metabolism over glucose utilization, and increased synthesis by the liver of thyroid- and steroid-binding proteins, fibrinogen and other proteins such as ceruloplasmin and alpha1-antitrypsin are characteristic of pregnancy. As a result of such changes, many of laboratory reference intervals for nonpregnant patients are not appropriate for pregnant patients. In addition, the reference intervals of many laboratory tests are dependent on the duration of the pregnancy. The article summarizes changes in reference intervals of common laboratory tests during pregnancy. It presents information on the changes of laboratory tests according to trimesters of pregnancy (tab. 1) [1].

Key words:
laboratory tests – reference intervals – pregnancy – pregnancy and laboratory tests

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