Fig. 1

Serum concentration of steroids in pregnant subjects. Figures a and b depict the serum concentration of adrenal steroids estimated in both CTRL and ANX groups during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Steroids were quantified by two step chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (see methods). The concentration values of serum steroids are expressed as the mean ± SEM, as described: CTRL; CORT (20.4 ± 1.34 μg/dL), DHEA-S (86.3 ± 9.5 μg/dL). ANX; CORT (29.05 ± 1.8 μg/dL), DHEA-S (53.6 ± 3.6 μg/dL). t-test analysis with Welch’s correction was used to estimate the p-values for each steroid assayed in the studied groups. Comparison between serum levels of steroids were performed through the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test. This test showed significant differences in DHEAS levels (Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.05) and cortisol levels (Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.001), among the studied groups. (*) p ≤ 0.05; (**); p ≤ 0.001; (***) p ≤ 0.0001. Statistical analysis was established at a p < 0.05. Abbreviations: ANX, severe anxiety; CTRL; control; CORT, cortisol; DHEA-S, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate. Data was calculated using GraphPad v.7