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The physiological changes that occur during pregnancy include altered regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. The fetoplacental unit plays a major role in this, together with alteration of circulating cortisol-binding globulin levels, with a net effect to increase both total and free cortisol levels. Importantly, there are several pathological conditions that require steroid treatment or replacement during pregnancy, and optimizing therapy is clearly crucial. The potential for acute and chronic adverse effects that can impact upon both the mother and the fetus makes the decision of how and when to instigate steroid therapy particularly challenging. In this review, we describe the physio-pathological changes to the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis that occur during pregnancy, tools to assess endogenous glucocorticoid reserve as well as discuss treatment strategies and the potential for the development of adverse events.

Original publication

DOI

10.1177/1753495X19847832

Type

Journal article

Journal

Obstet Med

Publication Date

06/2020

Volume

13

Pages

62 - 69

Keywords

Addison’s disease, Cushing’s disease, Glucocorticoids, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, lung maturation, pregnancy, steroids