Maternal androgen and estrogen concentrations are not associated with blood pressure changes in uncomplicated pregnancies

Abstract

Systolic blood pressure increase between the second and third trimester of pregnancy has been associated with a substantially reduced maternal breast cancer risk, and it has been suggested that elevated androgens mediate the association. Androgen and estrogen concentrations were measured in maternal serum collected in 86 uncomplicated, singleton pregnancies. Overall, there were no consistent or statistically significant patterns of association between the hormones and systolic, diastolic, or mean arterial blood pressure or blood pressure change between trimesters. Results were similar with adjustment for factors related to the hormones. These data are not consistent with the hypothesis that elevated androgen concentrations mediate the observed reduction in maternal breast cancer risk associated with increases in blood pressure over the pregnancy. Copyright © 2006 American Association for Cancer Research.