ABSTRACT
Androgens are among the causative factors in preeclampsia. This study was done to compare the serum androgens and progesterone in preeclampsia and normal pregnancy. This case-control study was done on 30 preeclamptic and 30 healthy pregnant women in Gorgan, Iran. Higher or equal to 140/90 mmHg and proteinuria equal or more than +1 in dip stick test in the third trimester of pregnancy were considered as the diagnostic criteria of preeclampsia. Progesterone, free and total testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate [DHEA] were measured by ELISA method. Total testosterone level was 1.8 +/- 0.3 ng/ml and 1.3 +/- 0.9 ng/ml in cases and controls, respectively. This difference was not significant. Progesterone was lower in cases [95 +/- 46.9 ng/ml] than in controls [165.4 +/- 75 ng/ml] [P<0.01]. Free testosterone and DHEA were 5.6 +/- 2.3 ng/ml and 1 +/- 0.5 ng/ml in cases, respectively which was significantly higher than the controls [3.2 +/- 1.5 ng/ml and 0.7 +/- 0.4 ng/ml, respectively] [P<0.045]. Serum level of free testosterone, DHEA and progesterone increased and reduced respectively in preeclampsia