Maternal serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and labor induction in postterm pregnancies

Objectives: To study the relationship between maternal endogenous dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels, success of labor induction, and Bishop scores in postterm pregnancies. Methods: There were 65 postterm pregnancies. Group 1 consisted of women spontaneously in the active phase of labor, and group 2 of women with hypotonic uterine contractions whose labor was inducted by oxytocin. Levels of DHEAS were studied from venous blood samples. Demographic data and Bishop scores were recorded. Results: The demographic characteristics of patients were similar, but DHEAS levels were higher in group 1 than in group 2 (P<0.001). Linear regression analysis showed a significant relationship between DHEAS and Bishop scores. DHEAS levels in women delivered vaginally were significantly higher than in women delivered by cesarean section. From the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve, DHEAS levels might determine the mode of delivery and success of labor induction; however, Bishop scores do not. Conclusions: DHEAS levels may be an important factor influencing the efficiency of labor and the success of labor induction in postterm, pregnancies. (C) 2003 International Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.