HORMONES AND PREGNANCY. BASIC SCIENCE AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Section I. Hormones in the Physiology and Pharmacology of Pregnancy:
1. The neuroendocrinology of pregnancy Silvia Vannuccini, Irene Paternò, John R. G. Challis and Felice Petraglia
2. The placenta as an endocrine organ/placental endocrinology Roger Smith
3. The role of oxytocin in pregnancy Kiichiro Furuya and Richard Ivell
4. The role of human chorionic gonadotropin in pregnancy Keiichi Kumasawa and Yutaka Osuga
5. The role of estrogens in pregnancy Nadia Berkane, Yveline Ansaldi and Nicola Pluchino
6. The role of progesterone in pregnancy Sam Mesiano
7. Hormones and the cardiovascular system in pregnancy Daniele Farsetti and Herbert Valensise

Section II. Hormones and Gestational Disorders:
8. Prolactin, prolactinoma and pregnancy Dominique Maiter and Philippe Chanson
9. Growth hormone disorders in pregnancy Marie Helene Schernthaner-Reiter, Greisa Vila, Peter Wolf and Anton Luger
10. Gestational diabetes Serena Ottanelli, Federico Mecacci and Moshe Hod
11. Obesity and metabolic syndrome in pregnancy Kent L. R. Thornburg, Amy M. Valent, Nicole E. Marshall and Jonathan Q. Purnell
12. Hormones and preterm birth Emily M. Frier, Sarah J. Stock, Stephen Lye and Oksana Shynlova
13. Thyroid dysfunction in pregnancy and postpartum Luigi Bartalena, Eliana Piantanida, Adriana Lai, and Maria Laura Tanda
14. The role of hormones in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy Leslie Myatt and James M. Roberts
15. Adrenal disease in pregnancy Jack Lockett, Warrick Inder, David H. McIntyre, Helen L. Barrett, Sailesh Kumar and Vicki Lee Clifton
16. Hormones and multiple pregnancy Viola Seravalli, Noemi Strambi and Mariarosaria Di Tommaso
17. Hormones in pregnancy and the developmental origins of health and disease John R. G. Challis, Felice Petraglia, Deborah M. Sloboda, Victor K. M. Han and Judith G. Hall.

The endocrine and neuroendocrine system in pregnancy involves highly complex maternal, fetal and placental mechanisms, which are critical for the maintenance of pregnancy, the timing of parturition, for fetal growth and protection from adverse fetal programming. This timely book summarizes the different endocrine aspects related to pregnant women, describing how hormones regulate physiological homeostasis and influence the pathogenesis of disease. The first section of the book covers the role of specific hormones in detail, including oxytocin, hCG and estrogen. The second section discusses gestational disorders such as diabetes, hypertensive disorders and preeclampsia and how the involvement of hormones has clinical implications for management. Best practice for management of endocrine disorders, which can negatively impact pregnancy, such as thyroid disease and obesity, is also reviewed. This book is essential for clinicians and scientists looking to gain knowledge of the role of hormones in pregnancy and how they can best support patients.

• Authors come from a range of backgrounds including endocrinology, obstetrics, gynaecology and clinical physiology, providing the multidisciplinary perspective essential for a complete overview of this complex subject
• Pragmatic in style, this is a highly practical resource for clinicians and scientists seeking guidance on how to be manage patients with gestational disorders and endocrine diseases in pregnancy
• Hormones and their role in pregnancy are discussed individually, allowing clinicians to quickly access information that is relevant to their patients

AUTHORS
• Felice Petraglia, Università degli Studi, Florence
Felice Petraglia is Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Florence and Chief of the Maternal – Infancy Department, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy. He is Fellow-ad Eundem of the RCOG. Dr Petraglia is also Editor Emeritus of Human Reproduction Update, Editor of RBMO and Associate Editor of Reproductive Sciences. He is Past President of the Society of Gynecologic Investigation (SGI) and of the Society of Endometriosis and Uterine Disorders (SEUD).
• Mariarosaria Di Tommaso, Università degli Studi, Florence
Mariarosaria Di Tommaso is Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Florence, Florence, Italy. She is a Member and Italian ambassador of the Society Maternal Fetal Medicine and an Executive Member of the Italian Society Perinatal Medicine.
• Federico Mecacci, Università degli Studi, Florence