HCS, estriol and oxytocinase in maternal serum and neonatal condition in high risk pregnancies.

In order to find a reliable index of fetal wellbeing, maternal estriol, hCS and oxytocinase levels were related with condition of the neonate. Fifty six high risk pregnancies were studied. Estriol and hCS were determined by specific radioimmunoassay and oxytocinase with a colorimetric method. The condition of the newborn was evaluated by the APGAR score. Neonates were divided into two groups, depressed (APGAR score 0-6) and vigorous (APGAR score 7-10). When the mean birthweights of both groups were statistically different, maternal estriol levels were corrected to avoid the influencing factor of newborn weight. Mean maternal estriol level corresponding to vigorous newborns was 46.73 ng/ml. This value was statistically higher than that corresponding to the group of depressed newborns, which was 26.25 ng/ml (Fig. 1). The mean birthweight of depressed infants (2,382.75 g) was statistically lower than that of the vigorous group (3,044.75 g). The corrected mean maternal estriol values of vigorous neonates (45.44 ng/ml) was different from that of depressed ones (25.14 ng/ml) (Fig. 2). When patients were divided according to maternal diseases (diabetes, vascular pathology, Rh sensitization) serum estriol levels of the mother were statistically different according to the Apgar score of the newborns. There was no significant difference between serum hCS and oxytocinase levels of mothers with depressed and vigorous newborns. Discarding fetal weight as an influencing factor in maternal hormone level, our results indicate the suitability of maternal serum estriol determinations to predict condition of the newborns in high risk pregnancies.