Abstract
Summary
Adrenal cortical capacity and cortisol utilization were studied in 20 patients with normal pregnancy and 19 patients with toxemia of pregnancy. It was found that the level of plasma 17-OHCS in late pregnancy can be further elevated by the action of exogenous ACTH. The reserve capacity of the adrenal cortex in normal pregnancy is similar to that in non-pregnant subjects; in toxemia of pregnancy it is somewhat reduced. Utilization of infused cortisol in both normal and toxemic pregnancies does not appear to be faulty; thus utilization does not seem to be a factor in the elevated levels of plasma 17-OHCS found in pregnancy.
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