[Usefulness and limits of a fetal biophysical profile in the management of pregnancy at risk].

Usefulness and limits of fetal biophysical profile (BPP) were determined in 132 high-risk pregnancies, evaluating the relationship between the last biophysical profile result and perinatal outcome. The presence of a low incidence of perinatal complications when BPP is normal permits the conservative management of these pregnancies. When the score is abnormal instead, there is also high false positive rate that may determine an unnecessary intervention with associated perinatal morbidity. On the other hand, BPP seems to become abnormal relatively late in the chronic asphyxial process, when it may be impossible to prevent mortality or a serious perinatal morbidity: its association with other tests is therefore necessary for a better evaluation of fetal risk.