Fetal sex dependent hormone levels in early pregnant women with elevated maternal serum α-fetoprotein

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Abstract
Maternal serum and amniotic hormone levels have been investigated in two groups of women in pregnancy weeks 18–21. One group (B) was composed of women with high α‐fetoprotein levels in serum without group (A) with normal α‐fetoprotein levels in serum. Amongst group B women were four pregnancy complications: two spontaneous abortions, one premature delivery, and one cesarean section due to fetal asphyxia. Group B women were significantly different from group A women. Thus, higher maternal serum levels of total estriol (P = 0.030), testosterone (P = 0.016), and α‐fetoprotein (P = 0.018) were noted in the presence of male fetuses; and higher hPL (P = 0.004), FSH (P = 0.037), and α‐fetoprotein (P = 0.002) concentrations in women carrying female fetuses, who were accompanied by lower total estriol concentrations (P = 0.045). Differences between groups B and A in terms of amniotic fluid analyses were only related to female fetal sex. Thus, group B showed higher hPL (P = 0.028), testosterone (P = 0.020), and FSH (P = 0.006) levels, and lower α‐fetoprotein (P = 0.013) concentrations. It is concluded that elevated maternal serum levels of α‐fetoprotein are accompanied in female fetuses by an endocrine milieu different from that of matched controls. This difference may put the conceptus at a disadvantage, but the majority of the girls were born on time without signs of small‐for‐date.