| Popis: |
A new, rapid and simple method was assessed for the determination of urinary œstriol as a means of predicting the likelihood of intrauterine death of the foetus, before term, in abnormal pregnancy. Assays were carried out in 403 pregnancies which were considered to be associated with increased foetal risk. Subnormal œstriol excretions were recorded in 59. Intrauterine death occurred in 18 pregnancies, including 2 cases of erythroblastosis fœtalis. In 12 (75%) of the remaining 16, the œstriol excretion was subnormal when last measured before intrauterine death; in 3 others it was in the " borderline " range. The cases in which œstriol levels were not subnormal at the last assay before intrauterine foetal death are discussed in detail. There were 38 premature deliveries following subnormal œstriol levels. 4 (11%) babies died in the neonatal period. It is concluded that a subnormal œstriol level carries a high risk of subsequent foetal death, and that this assay, if acted upon in the light of the clinical situation, can contribute to a reduction in perinatal mortality. |
