[The surveillance of pregnancies with suspected placental dysfunktion. I. Material and methods (author's transl)].

The efficacy of five different methods for detection of fetoplacental distress has been compared in 265 risk pregnancies. The tests were urinary oestriol, urinary pregnanediol, human placental lactogen and heat-stable alkaline phosphotase in the serum and phonocardiotokographie. 13 fetuses died antepartum, 47 of surviving infants were growth-retarded. The gestational age was calculated from clinical dates, serial ultrasonic measurements and immediate postnatal studies. In the I part the methods and the analysis of the results are described.