Relatively low plasma cortisol levels in parturients are associated with epidural-related maternal fever.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Epidural analgesia (EA) may suppress the stress response or cortisol production during vaginal delivery by blocking pain transmission. However, there is no evidence that epidural analgesia contributes to epidural-related maternal fever (ERMF) by inhibiting the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between maternal cortisol levels and ERMF during vaginal delivery.

Study design

Prospective cohort study.

Methods

The venous blood samples were collected from full-term pregnant women undergoing vaginal delivery and categorized into control group (<37.5 °C without EA), normal group (<37.5 °C with EA), mild group (37.5-37.9 °C with EA) or fever group (≥38 °C with Epidural analgesia (EA)). Then, pla

SUBMITTER: Zhang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12278448 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature