Progesterone Production Rates During the Third Trimester of Pregnancy in Normal Women, Diabetic Women, and Women with Abnormal Glucose Tolerance1

Abstract
The metabolic clearance rate of progesterone has been studied by single injection (MCRR) [2340 ± 183 (se) l/day in 7 subjects] and by continuous infusion (MCRr) methods in the third trimester of pregnancy in 22 normal women [2020 ± 135 (se) l/day], 10 women with abnormal intravenous glucose tolerance (GTT) [2830 ± 229 (se) l/day], and in 11 insulin-dependent diabetic women—7 treated with estrogen and progestin [2400 ± 176 (se) l/day] and 4 not treated with estrogen and progestin [2260 ± 280 (se) l/day]. The inner volume of distribution (VI) in normal pregnant women was 13.2 ± 1. 3 (se) 1 and the outer volume assuming metabolism in tie inner compartment to be zero VQa=0 was 38.0 ± 7.6 (se) 1 and assuming metabolism in the outer compartment to be zero VQe=0 was 21.0 ± 4.1 (se) 1. The plasma/blood concentration of 3H-progesterone was 1.55 (expected ratio 1.59), and therefore, progesterone is distributed primarily in the plasma during pregnancy. The MCRr for patients with abnormal GTT was different from normals (P < 0.005); however, when corrected for body surface area (BSA) there was no difference [1150 ± 75.5 (se) l/day/m2 in normal subjects, cf. 1380 ± 117 (se) l/day/m2 in abnormal GTT subjects]. There was no difference in the MCRr, therefore, among normal pregnant, pregnant with abnormal GTT, and insulin-dependent diabetic pregnant women treated or not treated with estrogen and progestin. The plasma progesterone concentration in 30 normals was 10.4 ± 4.27 (sd) μg/100 ml with a production rate (PI) of 210 ± 77.8 (sd) mg/day; in 10 patients with abnormal GTT 9.0 ± 3.12 (sd) μg/100 ml and PI of 248 ± 85.7 (sd) mg/day; and in 7 insulin-dependent diabetics receiving estrogen and progestin 11.2 ± 3.91 (sd) μ/100 ml with PI of 262 ± 84.8 (sd) mg/day, and in 4 insulin-dependent diabetics not receiving estrogen and progestin 13.5 ± 3.09 (sd) μg/100 ml with PI of 288 ± 77.8 (sd) mg/day.