Table 1.
The serum steroid levels of pregnant women in the first and third trimesters.
| Steroids (nM) | Trimester 1 Median (Quartiles) |
Trimester 3 Median (Quartiles) |
Trimester 3 − Trimester 1 Median (Quartiles) |
p-Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C21 Δ5 Steroids | ||||
| Pregnenolone | 4.28 (2.86, 6.22) | 4.84 (3.46, 7.32) | 0.563 (−0.812, 2.99) | <0.001 |
| Pregnenolone sulfate | 180 (124, 259) | 212 (161, 295) | 32.6 (−14.1, 84.4) | <0.001 |
| 20α-Dihydropregnenolone | 4.78 (3.55, 6.09) | 3.29 (2.66, 4.32) | −1.23 (−2.44, −0.327) | <0.001 |
| 20α-Dihydropregnenolone sulfate | 954 (639, 1390) | 849 (620, 1100) | −125 (−378, 92.5) | <0.001 |
| 17-Hydroxypregnenolone sulfate | 4.6 (3.07, 7.9) | 2.69 (2.01, 3.98) | −2.04 (−4.86, −0.636) | <0.001 |
| 17-Hydroxypregnenolone | 7.29 (4.63, 12) | 7.39 (5.05, 11.5) | 0.144 (−3.54, 3.08) | 0.704 |
| 16α-Hydroxypregnenolone | 0.462 (0.298, 0.68) | 0.806 (0.589, 1.13) | 0.344 (0.0694, 0.593) | <0.001 |
| C19 Δ5 Steroids | ||||
| Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) | 9.25 (6.01, 12.9) | 4.63 (3.29, 6.87) | −4.12 (−6.63, −1.66) | <0.001 |
| DHEA sulfate | 2900 (1800, 4360) | 1150 (666, 1810) | −1670 (−2560, −910) | <0.001 |
| 7α-Hydroxy-DHEA | 0.909 (0.539, 1.43) | 0.344 (0.228, 0.526) | −0.533 (−0.973, −0.233) | <0.001 |
| 7-oxo-DHEA | 0.503 (0.306, 0.842) | 0.519 (0.41, 0.71) | 0.0141 (−0.307, 0.235) | 0.647 |
| 7β-Hydroxy-DHEA | 0.598 (0.342, 0.885) | 0.285 (0.175, 0.382) | −0.334 (−0.565, −0.124) | <0.001 |
| Androstenediol | 2.72 (1.85, 4.1) | 1.13 (0.741, 2.15) | −1.24 (−2.16, −0.51) | <0.001 |
| Androstenediol sulfate | 322 (194, 512) | 174 (112, 261) | −130 (−307, −25.3) | <0.001 |
| 5-Androstene-3β,7α,17β-triol | 0.459 (0.281, 0.729) | 0.123 (0.084, 0.233) | −0.305 (−0.571, −0.165) | <0.001 |
| 5-Androstene-3β,7β,17β-triol | 0.509 (0.319, 0.873) | 0.231 (0.144, 0.319) | −0.312 (−0.572, −0.134) | <0.001 |
| 5-Androstene-3β,16α,17β-triol | 0.206 (0.131, 0.319) | 0.496 (0.337, 0.788) | 0.266 (0.107, 0.536) | <0.001 |
| 5-Androstene-3β,16α,17β-triol sulfate | 32.6 (18.9, 61.6) | 78.2 (46.9, 139) | 34 (10.5, 78.2) | <0.001 |
| C21 Δ4 Steroids | ||||
| Progesterone | 104 (76.5, 135) | 382 (281, 489) | 277 (183, 390) | <0.001 |
| 20α-Dihydroprogesterone | 22.5 (17.2, 29.2) | 49.2 (36.3, 67.7) | 26.3 (15.6, 43) | <0.001 |
| 17-Hydroxyprogesterone | 11 (8.47, 14.1) | 17.4 (13.8, 21.3) | 5.7 (1.69, 10.9) | <0.001 |
| 16α-Hydroxyprogesterone | 2.14 (1.57, 2.79) | 10.2 (7.62, 14.3) | 8.07 (5.31, 12.2) | <0.001 |
| 17α,20α-Dihydroxy-4-pregnene-3-one | 3.08 (2.18, 4.12) | 4.44 (3.34, 5.85) | 1.25 (0.332, 2.54) | <0.001 |
| C19 Δ4 Steroids | ||||
| Androstenedione | 7.22 (5.44, 9.79) | 6.62 (4.8, 9.26) | −0.966 (−2.54, 0.667) | <0.001 |
| Testosterone | 2.9 (2.1, 3.9) | 2.54 (1.69, 4.17) | −0.245 (−0.805, 0.784) | 0.308 |
| Conjugated testosterone | 1.08 (0.407, 2.39) | 4.2 (2.12, 7.29) | 2.1 (0.335, 5.67) | <0.001 |
| 5α-Dihydrotestosterone | 0.903 (0.596, 1.45) | 0.443 (0.27, 0.682) | −0.446 (−0.761, −0.167) | <0.001 |
| Conjugated 5α-dihydrotestosterone | 1.42 (0.854, 2.09) | 1 (0.677, 1.58) | −0.288 (−1.09, 0.364) | <0.001 |
| Estrogens | ||||
| Estrone | 3.57 (1.99, 6.85) | 17 (10.4, 31.4) | 13.4 (5.26, 29.9) | <0.001 |
| Estrone sulfate | 5.67 (3, 11.7) | 27.3 (16.8, 47.6) | 21.7 (9.41, 38.2) | <0.001 |
| Estradiol | 3.31 (1.55, 5.77) | 31 (18.4, 48.5) | 27 (16.2, 44.4) | <0.001 |
| Estradiol sulfate | 3.98 (2.18, 6.83) | 19.8 (10.3, 35.2) | 15.8 (4.91, 29.6) | <0.001 |
| Estriol | 1.89 (0.726, 4.44) | 74.8 (40.8, 119) | 74.3 (40.9, 116) | <0.001 |
| C21 5α/β-reduced Steroids | ||||
| 5α-Dihydroprogesterone | 10.4 (7.09, 13.7) | 65.1 (42.8, 92.5) | 54.3 (30.7, 80.6) | <0.001 |
| Allopregnanolone | 6.71 (5.05, 9.09) | 31.1 (21.1, 42.7) | 23.8 (14.8, 34) | <0.001 |
| Allopregnanolone sulfate | 128 (82.7, 227) | 1220 (739, 1870) | 1080 (534, 1690) | <0.001 |
| Isopregnanolone | 2.05 (1.38, 2.86) | 7.96 (4.44, 11.9) | 5.28 (2.73, 9.51) | <0.001 |
| Isopregnanolone sulfate | 92.3 (59, 143) | 605 (344, 958) | 477 (263, 837) | <0.001 |
| 5β-Dihydroprogesterone | 0.123 (0.043, 0.235) | 2.02 (1.1, 3.26) | 1.89 (0.978, 3.01) | <0.001 |
| Pregnanolone | 1.91 (1.06, 3.06) | 22.8 (14.5, 29.9) | 20 (13.5, 27.1) | <0.001 |
| Conjugated pregnanolone | 76 (54, 131) | 696 (480, 950) | 549 (361, 806) | <0.001 |
| Epipregnanolone | 0.267 (0.137, 0.538) | 1.36 (0.823, 1.97) | 0.935 (0.596, 1.53) | <0.001 |
| Conjugated epipregnanolone | 23.7 (14.7, 37.3) | 154 (95.4, 255) | 117 (67.8, 207) | <0.001 |
| 17-Hydroxyallopregnanolone | 0.11 (0.04, 0.197) | 0.279 (0.124, 0.511) | 0.149 (0.019, 0.314) | <0.001 |
| 17-Hydroxyallopregnanolone sulfate | 6.6 (3.82, 11) | 11.1 (6.83, 19.5) | 3.48 (0.727, 9.93) | <0.001 |
| 17-Hydroxypregnanolone | 0.195 (0.103, 0.36) | 0.882 (0.595, 1.19) | 0.623 (0.388, 0.899) | <0.001 |
| Conjugated 17α-hydroxypregnanolone | 24.1 (16.8, 39.6) | 46.4 (31, 70.6) | 19.4 (8.95, 35.1) | <0.001 |
| 5α,20α-Tetrahydroprogesterone | 6.04 (4.42, 8.2) | 21.7 (15.1, 31.1) | 15.3 (9.37, 22.2) | <0.001 |
| Conjugated 5α,20α-tetrahydroprogesterone | 5.35 (3.3, 8.59) | 15.5 (10.7, 25.2) | 10.1 (4.74, 18.5) | <0.001 |
| 5α-Pregnane-3α,20α-diol | 7.23 (4.83, 9.68) | 23.1 (16, 32.4) | 14.2 (8.53, 23.9) | <0.001 |
| Conjugated 5α-pregnane-3α,20α-diol | 1650 (1100, 2580) | 6550 (4220, 9420) | 4440 (2660, 7260) | <0.001 |
| 5α-Pregnane-3β,20α-diol | 2.24 (1.57, 3.27) | 6.59 (4.35, 10.5) | 3.65 (2.33, 7.26) | <0.001 |
| Conjugated 5α-pregnane-3β,20α-diol | 3720 (2150, 6210) | 10,900 (7600, 17,000) | 6550 (3540, 11,500) | <0.001 |
| 5β,20α-Tetrahydroprogesterone | 0.096 (0.062, 0.171) | 1.96 (1.4, 2.66) | 1.8 (1.28, 2.47) | <0.001 |
| Conjugated 5β,20α-tetrahydroprogesterone | 2.65 (1.68, 4.06) | 7.48 (5.02, 9.64) | 4.22 (2.05, 6.78) | <0.001 |
| 5β-Pregnane-3α,20α-diol | 0.829 (0.584, 1.21) | 6.61 (5.06, 8.53) | 5.53 (4.19, 7.16) | <0.001 |
| Conjugated 5β-pregnane-3α,20α-diol | 297 (229, 427) | 1070 (794, 1460) | 750 (498, 998) | <0.001 |
| 5β-Pregnane-3β,20α-diol | 0.18 (0.113, 0.313) | 0.593 (0.396, 0.927) | 0.393 (0.209, 0.665) | <0.001 |
| Conjugated 5β-pregnane-3β,20α-diol | 189 (127, 286) | 644 (461, 920) | 430 (253, 624) | <0.001 |
| 5α-Pregnane-3α,17α,20α-triol | 0.276 (0.146, 0.474) | 0.179 (0.104, 0.321) | −0.082 (−0.199, 0.006) | <0.001 |
| Conjugated 5α-pregnane-3α,17α,20α-triol | 28.5 (10.5, 58) | 35.5 (11.8, 87.5) | 3.2 (−5.57, 23.6) | 0.001 |
| 5β-Pregnane-3α,17α,20α-triol | 2.8 (1.88, 3.94) | 4.79 (3.16, 6.17) | 1.52 (0.35, 2.82) | <0.001 |
| Conjugated 5β-pregnane-3α,17α,20α-triol | 116 (82.2, 216) | 162 (117, 269) | 34.8 (−21.4, 102) | <0.001 |
| 5α-Androstane-3,17-dione | 0.521 (0.34, 0.744) | 0.425 (0.297, 0.625) | −0.0559 (−0.197, 0.0546) | <0.001 |
| C19 5α/β-reduced Steroids | ||||
| Androsterone | 0.897 (0.705, 1.21) | 0.568 (0.427, 0.815) | −0.336 (−0.549, −0.12) | <0.001 |
| Androsterone sulfate | 1290 (718, 2100) | 594 (333, 986) | −540 (−1250, −258) | <0.001 |
| Epiandrosterone | 0.333 (0.205, 0.497) | 0.158 (0.102, 0.251) | −0.16 (−0.288, −0.062) | <0.001 |
| Epiandrosterone sulfate | 348 (214, 496) | 129 (76.8, 187) | −199 (−312, −116) | <0.001 |
| Etiocholanolone | 0.265 (0.164, 0.421) | 0.233 (0.148, 0.396) | −0.025 (−0.103, 0.062) | 0.103 |
| Etiocholanolone sulfate | 53.5 (34.2, 84.6) | 36.6 (20, 56.2) | −15.6 (−36.2, −4.48) | <0.001 |
| Epietiocholanolone sulfate | 17 (10.4, 35.5) | 9.45 (6.06, 17.8) | −7.24 (−18.5, −2.09) | <0.001 |
| 5α-Androstane-3α,17β-diol | 0.174 (0.118, 0.245) | 0.079 (0.061, 0.11) | −0.09 (−0.145, −0.05) | <0.001 |
| Conjugated 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol | 19.7 (14.2, 28.7) | 13.2 (8.46, 18) | −7.12 (−14.7, −1.3) | <0.001 |
| 5α-Androstane-3β,17β-diol | 0.064 (0.024, 0.141) | 0.032 (0.01, 0.075 | −0.022 (−0.081, −0.002) | <0.001 |
| Conjugated 5α-androstane-3β,17β-diol | 26.6 (16.1, 56.5) | 12.5 (7.12, 23.6) | −14.8 (−35.1, −4.69) | <0.001 |
| 5β-Androstane-3α,17β-diol | 0.011 (0.006, 0.018) | 0.007 (0.003, 0.013) | −0.004 (−0.009, 0.002) | <0.001 |
| Conjugated 5β-androstane-3α,17β-diol | 3.98 (2.5, 6.59) | 2.85 (1.78, 4.9) | −0.916 (−2.09, 0.272) | <0.001 |
| Corticoids and 11β-hydroxy-androstanes | ||||
| Cortisol | 389 (308, 473) | 632 (537, 824) | 231 (148, 386) | <0.001 |
| Cortisone | 106 (77.1, 148) | 170 (128, 252) | 52.8 (22.8, 111) | <0.001 |
| Corticosterone | 12.5 (7.38, 18.6) | 19.5 (14.6, 27.2) | 6.96 (−0.918, 14.7) | <0.001 |
| 11-Deoxycortisol | 0.74 (0.168, 1.87) | 3.49 (1.06, 7.02) | 2.57 (0.423, 5.22) | <0.001 |
| 21-Deoxycortisol | 0.081 (0.029, 0.243) | 0.117 (0.0656, 0.259) | 0.029 (−0.025, 0.098) | <0.001 |
| 3α,5α-Tetrahydrocorticosterone | 0.039 (0.0173, 0.087) | 0.028 (0.010, 0.056) | −0.009 (−0.043, 0.003) | <0.001 |
| 3α,5β-Tetrahydrocorticosterone | 0.124 (0.0409, 0.328) | 0.06 (0.022, 0.127) | −0.052 (−0.228, 0.0112) | <0.001 |
| 11β-Hydroxyandrostenedione | 48.3 (29.9, 74.9) | 60 (39.5, 102) | 8.58 (−1.77, 30) | <0.001 |
| 11β-Hydroxyandrosterone | 1.2 (0.702, 2.14) | 0.316 (0.188, 0.528) | −0.897 (−1.73, −0.432) | <0.001 |
| 11β-Hydroxyandrosterone sulfate | 12.2 (8.5, 18.3) | 7.45 (4.59, 11.6) | −4.56 (−9.27, −0.811) | <0.001 |
| 11β-Hydroxyepiandrosterone | 0.048 (0.023, 0.101) | 0.012 (0.005, 0.025) | −0.031 (−0.074, −0.009) | <0.001 |
| 11β-Hydroxyepiandrosterone sulfate | 0.783 (0.413, 1.25) | 1.81 (0.938, 3.18) | 0.974 (0.203, 1.94) | <0.001 |
| 11β-Hydroxyetiocholanolone | 0.927 (0.576, 1.39) | 0.422 (0.241, 0.673) | −0.44 (−0.799, −0.213) | <0.001 |
| 11β-Hydroxyetiocholanolone sulfate | 3.01 (1.82, 4.85) | 1.77 (1.05, 2.93) | −1.06 (−2.17, −0.174) | <0.001 |
Note: p-values show significant differences between trimesters.