Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2012 Nov;207(5):396.e1-8.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2012.08.001. Epub 2012 Aug 6.

Relationship between 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate concentrations and gestational age at delivery in twin gestation

Collaborators, Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Relationship between 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate concentrations and gestational age at delivery in twin gestation

Steve N Caritis et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2012 Nov.

Abstract

Objective: We sought to evaluate in women with twin gestation the relationship between 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC) concentration and gestational age at delivery and select biomarkers of potential pathways of drug action.

Study design: Blood was obtained between 24-28 weeks (epoch 1) and 32-35 weeks (epoch 2) in 217 women with twin gestation receiving 17-OHPC or placebo. Gestational age at delivery and concentrations of 17-OHPC, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, progesterone, C-reactive protein (CRP), and corticotrophin-releasing hormone were assessed.

Results: Women with higher concentrations of 17-OHPC delivered at earlier gestational ages than women with lower concentrations (P < .001). Women receiving 17-OHPC demonstrated significantly higher (P = .005) concentrations of CRP in epoch 1 than women receiving placebo but CRP values were similar in epoch 2 in both groups. A highly significant (P < .0001) positive relationship was observed between 17-OHPC concentration and progesterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone concentrations at both epochs. Corticotropin-releasing hormone concentrations did not differ by treatment group.

Conclusion: 17-OHPC may adversely impact gestational age at delivery in women with twin gestation.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

DISCLOSURE: None of the authors have a conflict of interest

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Relationship of 17-OHPC concentration with progesterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone in epoch 2. Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.46 (p<0.0001) for 17-OHPC vs progesterone and Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.29 (p=0.01) for 17-OHPC vs 17-hydroxyprogesterone.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Relationship of 17-OHPC to CRH concentration in epoch 2 and to the rate of change of CRH. Spearman correlation coefficient =0.31 (p=0.02) for 17-OHPC vs CRH concentration in epoch 2 and Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.34 (p=0.01) for 17-OHPC vs rate of change of CRH.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Scatterplot of 17-OHPC concentration and gestational age at delivery.

Comment in

References

    1. Meis PJ, Klebanoff M, Thom E, et al. for the NICHD Maternal-Fetal Medicine Network. Prevention of recurrent preterm delivery by 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate. N Engl J Med. 2003;348:2379–85. - PubMed
    1. Rouse DJ, Caritis SN, Peaceman AM, et al. for the NICHD Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network. A trial of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate to prevent prematurity in twins. N Engl J Med. 2007;357:454–61. - PubMed
    1. Petraglia F, Imperatore A, Challis JRG. Neuroendocrine Mechanisms in Pregnancy and Parturition. Endocr Rev. 2010;31:783–816. - PubMed
    1. Chaisilwattana P, Monif GRG. Potential Use of C-Reactive Protein Determinations in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 1989;44:355–360. - PubMed
    1. Zhang S, Mada S, Sharma S, et al. Identification of Enzymes Involved in the Simultaneous quantitation of 17a-hydroxyprogesterone caproate, 17a-hydroxyprogesterone and progesterone in humans using high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry( HPLC-MS/MS) Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2008;48:1174–1180. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding