MATERNAL SERUM DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE SULFATE LEVELS AND SUCCESSFUL LABOR INDUCTION

Abstract- To evaluate the maternal serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate level as a factor associated with the outcome of labor induction. Venous blood was collected from 45 women at the initiation of labor induction. Pregnancies complicated by maternal corticosteroid use, antepartum chorioamnionitis, or cesarean delivery for indications other than arrest disorders, were excluded from analysis. In 42 women meeting inclusion criteria, induction followed established protocol. Serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels were measured by radioimmunoassay and correlated with the outcome of each induction attempt. A successful result was defined as progression to active labor. The welch approximate t-test, Mann-Whitney test, Fisher exact test, simple regression, and multiple regression were used for statistical analysis, with p<0.05 considered to be significant. The mean (±standard error) dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate level was higher in women who progressed to active labor (n=25) than in those with unsuccessful attempts (n=17), (48.63±6.53 µg/dl versus 26.86 ± 5.17 mg/dl, respectively; p= 0.03). Compared with women with dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels above 60 µg/dl, women with lower levels had an unsuccessful induction odds ratio (OR) of 6.92 (95 % confidence interval 1.74, 32.52, p = 0.01). The OR increased as dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels decreased. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate may be an important factor in successful labor induction