[The value of fetal blood flow measurements in intrauterine growth retardation in comparison with E3 and human placental lactogen determinations]

Abstract

In 110 pregnancies, repeated examinations of unconjugated E3 and HPL levels in maternal serum were carried out as well as repeated duplex pulsed doppler flow measurements in the umbilical artery and the fetal aorta. In 30 cases the fetuses were suspected to be growth retarded (group A), 5 small for date babies were not detected by routine ultrasound (group B) and 75 were normal control cases (group C). 17 fetuses of group A proved to be really SGA-babies (birthweight less than 10. percentile). The evaluation of the results indicates a higher sensitivity of the flow measurements in the diagnosis of growth retardation compared with the hormonal parameters (flow: 65%, E3: 12%, HPL: 29%). Above all, Doppler sonography is very reliable in distinguishing between growth retarded fetuses, at risk or not at risk.