RATIO CORTISONE/CORTISOL IN MOTHER AND INFANT AT BIRTH

Abstract
Specific determinations of cortisone/cortisol in the maternal and cord blood at the time of delivery in 9 normal pregnant women, 2 patients with adrenogenital syndrome, and 1 patient with Addison''s disease showed that the cortisone/cortisol ratio was altered from 1:10 in the maternal blood to more than 1:1 in cord blood, presumably due to transhydrogenation in the placenta. The significance of the alteration in the cortisone/cortisol ratio from mother to infant is discussed.