The Role of Melatonin in Complicated Pregnancy

Abstract

Introduction. In recent years, there have been significant changes in the understanding of the hormone melatonin (MT). It has been confirmed that the processes of conception, pregnancy, and childbirth directly depend on the rhythm and level of MT secretion, but there is no general concept that could describe in detail the mechanisms of influence on ontogenesis.The aim of the study. To assess MT in the blood of pregnant with retrochorial hematoma (RCH) up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.Material and methods. Two groups were formed: 1st comprized 40 pregnant women with RCH, 2nd, control consisted of 44 healthy pregnant. Obstetric research, enzyme immunoassay to determine MT, and ultrasound were performed.The approval of the scientific work was obtained from the Bioethical Commission of the Bukovinian State Medical University (Ukraine).Statistical analysis was performed according to generally accepted methods of variational statistics.The work is a fragment of the research work “Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the perinatal period and the reproductive system of women and adolescent girls” (No. 201110Н, state registration number 0111U006499).Results. A significant decrease of MT in the 1st group and the dependence of its level on the size of the RCH was revealed: in the case of hematomas up to 1 cm MT (59.31±10.32 pg/ml) (р ˂ 0.001), which is not observed in hematomas more than 1 cm, which are dangerous for pregnancy (93.98±14.52 pg/ml), which may indicate a compensatory increase in MT; and the term of pregnancy (in 10-12 weeks 79.03±9.61 pg/ml (р ˂ 0.05), in 5-6 weeks 93.78±17.44 pg/ml).Conclusions. In cases of RCH up to 1 cm the content of MT decreases with the development of pregnancy, which can be used as a prognostic marker for the diagnosis of pregnancy complications. The increase in the level of MT with RCH more than 1 cm can be considered as a compensatory increase for the preservation of pregnancy and a regulatory influence on the further course of pregnancy.