Changes in levels of cell adhesion molecules, acute phase proteins, lipids and hemostasis in relation to levels of endogenous estrogens during pregnancy and after ovariectomy

The protective effect of oestrogens is probably caused also by the active inhibition of the inflammatory reaction of the acute phase and release of inflammatory cytokines type IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha by this hormone. We formulated this hypothesis because we recorded a drop of the protein of the acute stage, orosomucoid, in relation to the rising oestrogen level during pregnancy (r = -0.511, p < 0.0001). It ensues also from the finding of a lower level of cytoadhesive molecules of sE-selectins in a group of 66 pregnant women (sE-sel.: 32.95 +/- 12.5 ng/ml) with a higher level of 17-beta estradiol (17-beta E2: 9.34 +/- 7.8 nmol/l), as compared with the sE-selectin level in a group of 14 women after ovariectomy (sE-sel.: 43.97 +/- 8.174 ng/ml, p < 0.016) who lacked oestrogen (17-beta E2 0.14 +/- 0.13 nmol/l) and in a group of pregnant women (n 19) in the first trimester with level of 17-beta E2: 1.89 +/- 0.711 nmol/l where the sE-selectin concentrations at the onset pregnancy was higher (sE-sel.: 35.59 +/- 9.5 ng/ml) than in a group of pregnant women (n 38) during the second and third trimester (sE-sel.: 30.58 +/- 13.3 ng/ml, p < 0.05) with 17-beta E2 concentration 11.96 +/- 7.18 ng/ml. The finding of lower sE-selectin levels which is a sign that the endothelium is not exposed to the action of inflammatory cytokines IL-1 or TNF may thus be associated with the active "control" of thrombophilia in pregnancy. When during pregnancy in conjunction with oestrogen levels changes in the lipid concentration were investigated a compensating mechanism could be observed. Hypercholesterolaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia in pregnant women was associated with a rise of oestrogen levels as well as of "cardioprotective" HDL-cholesterol (the HDL level was during the first trimester 1.31 +/- 0.26 nmol/l, in the second and third trimester 1.69 +/- 0.48 nmol/l, p < 0.0167).