[Evaluation of a modified latex agglutination inhibitory reaction method for the quantitation of urinary estriol in pregnant women].

This study evaluated a modified latex agglutination inhibitory reaction method for the quantitation of urinary estriol in women during normal and abnormal pregnancy. The urinary levels of estriol in pregnant women measured by this method correlated with urinary and serum levels measured by radioimmunoassay. The urinary level of estriol rose during pregnancy and reached a peak at the time of delivery, after which it returned to the control level in a few days. In contrast, the urinary level of estriol in women with abnormal pregnancy did not rise during pregnancy. This method is useful to detect impaired function of the placenta in pregnant women.