Serum free estriol inefficient in the detection of intrauterine growth retardation.

The value of a single serum free estriol (E3) measurement in the detection of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) was investigated. Among the group of 40 mothers later giving birth to a growth retarded baby, E3 was low, i.g. below the level of two lower standard deviations of the mean values, in 9 cases. In the control group of 50 mothers with appropriately grown newborns, none of the E3 values was low. In a group of 42 mothers with a low E3 level, only 10 gave birth to a growth retarded baby. Hence, the sensitivity of a single E3 measurement to detect IUGR is 38%, the specificity 61% and the predictive value 37%. E3 measurement is neither efficient nor accurate in the detection of IUGR.