Clinical application of human-placental-lactogen values in late pregnancy.

Human-placental-lactogen (H.P.L.) levels were measured in the blood of 1000 women in the third trimester of pregnancy to see how measurement of H.P.L. could help in the management of an obstetric population in Britain. It was found that in the 93% of the population with a mean H.P.L. level of 4.3 mg/l or above, only 1.1% would have a poor pregnancy and 4.8% a compromised pregnancy. Of the 7% with levels below 4.3 mg/l, 57% woul have a normal outcome and 43% a poor or indifferent outcome. The false-positive rate was considerable, but the results of the study indicate nevertheless that H.P.L. levels are useful in predicting the outcome of pregnancy and that their measurement should be included as part of routine screening in the third trimester.