Determination of growth hormone, testosterone and estradiol in cord blood at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Background: Cord blood provides data on problems of neonates including factors that may serve as indicators of future disorders. Objectives: To determine the values of growth hormone, testosterone and estradiol using cord blood. Methods: Cross-sectional study using Cord blood of babies born in the labour ward of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) Borno State, Nigeria. The samples were analyzed in the Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Chemical Pathology Unit, University of Calabar, Nigeria. Enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) specific for the analysis of growth hormone, testosterone and estradiol was used. Results: Two hundred and eighty nine babies comprising 152 (52.8%) males and 137 (47.2%) females cord blood were analyzed. Nineteen were preterm and 270 were full term babies. The mean serum levels of estradiol and testosterone in both male and female babies were similar (2.47±0.31ng/ml male, 2.54±0.29ng/ml female and 1.73±0.60ng/ml male, 1.62± 0.64ng/ml female) respectively. The mean serum level of growth hormone in male was higher than that of female but not statistically significant (50.92±34.42ng/ml male and 45.95±30.87ng/ml). Conclusion: Cord blood Growth Hormone, testosterone and estradiol of male and female babies do not differ significantly at birth.