[Hormonal evaluation in multiple pregnancies (author's transl)].

Between 1974-1978 39 twins pregnancies and 1 triplet pregnancy were monitored by long term hormonal determinations in the serum and the urine. There was an incidence of premature labor of 90%, of pre-eclampsia of 28% and of bleeding 25%. The infants were at risk for prematurity in 58% and for increased perinatal mortality in 8%. The correlation between the total estrogen in the serum and total estrogen excretion in the urine was investigated. Serial determinations of HCG, HPL and progesterone were done in addition to estriol. All hormone levels were higher during the first half of a multiple pregnancy and the diagnosis of multiple pregnancy was suspected from these values. During the further course of the pregnancy none of these hormonal parameters in the serum was of any help in the early detection of fetal risk. In some cases the course of the estrogen excretion in the urine was a sign of placentae insufficiency.