Evaluation of maternal serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and its association with successful labour outcome among parturients undergoing spontaneous labour at term.

This study evaluated maternal serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) in spontaneous labour and its association with successful labour at term. A cross-sectional observational study was carried out on 140 parturients. Their blood samples were collected in active labour; allowed to clot, centrifuged, separated and stored at -20 °C before analysis for DHEAS was done using the ELISA method. Labour was termed successful when vaginal delivery was achieved. Serum DHEAS levels were higher among parturients with successful labour compared to women with unsuccessful outcome (p = 0.001). DHEAS level was also higher among parturients who did not require oxytocin augmentation compared with those who required it (p = .001). The odds ratio and incidence of successful labour increased significantly as DHEAS level increased above a critical value of 1.5 μg/ml (p = .001). The association between serum DHEAS level and successful labour remained significant after adjusting for other variables (p = .002).