THE AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY

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Abstract
Summary: During the years 1971–1984 urinary oestriol excretion was tested in 51,427 patients (group 1). One or more low oestriol value was found in 10.7% of patients; in this group the stillbirth rate was 6.8 times higher, the neonatal death rate 3.8 times higher, and fetal growth retardation rate 3.5 times higher than in patients with normal oestriol values (all p 0.00001).During the years 1985–1989 a further 20,635 patients were tested (group 2) and 7.6% had one or more low oestriol value. The perinatal mortality rate in patients with normal oestriol excretion fell from 0.8% in group 1 to 0.5% in group 2 (p< 0.005), and in patients with low oestriol excretion from 4.2% in group 1 to 2.4% in group 2 (p 0.002). However, patients in group 2 with low oestriol values still had significantly unfavourable results, compared to those with normal oestriol values ‐ stillbirth rate 3.3 times higher, neonatal death rate 4.6 times higher, and fetal growth retardation rate 3.2 times higher (all p < 0.00001).Intravenous dextrose and aminoacid infusions were given to 967 patients who had persistently low oestriol values in spite of rest in hospital, in an attempt to correct fetoplacental function; the perinatal mortality rate was 0.9% in the 660 (68.3%) who responded favourably, and 9.8% in the 307 (31.7%) who did not respond (p<0.0001).Although perinatal results have improved, fetal growth retardation and the risk of perinatal death are still identified by urinary oestriol estimation.

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