[Detection of fetal growth retardation by instrumental and biochemical monitoring methods]

Abstract

In 311 high-risk pregnancies between 28 and 42 weeks of gestation a fetal weight estimation by ultrasound, a Doppler sonography of the umbilical artery, an analysis of estriol and HPL-levels in maternal serum and a CTG nonstress-test were performed approximately at the same time. The aim of the study was to compare the value of these methods in the diagnosis of fetal growth retardation. By variation of cut-off levels between normal and pathological range, ROC curves were created which allowed an objective comparison of methods at any cut-off level from ranges of high sensitivity to ranges of high specificity. The course of these ROC curves determine the following rank of test validity: 1. ultrasound measurement, 2. Doppler sonography, 3. HPL assay, 4. CTG nonstress-test, 5. estriol assay.