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Fetoplacental Function and Antenatal Complications When the Fetus is Malformed
Author(s) -
Macafee C. A. J.,
Beischer N. A.,
Brown J. B.,
Fortune D. W.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.1972.tb00801.x
Subject(s) - fetus , anencephaly , obstetrics , medicine , caesarean section , fetal distress , excretion , pregnancy , endocrinology , biology , genetics
Summary: The patterns of maternal urinary oestriol excretion in 115 pregnancies in which the fetuses were malformed are presented. The incidences of antenatal complications, fetal distress in labour and Caesarean section are analysed and compared with those in a control series of 693 pregnancies in which the fetuses had similar malformations. Major fetal malformations were associated with high incidences of low oestriol excretion (61%) and intra‐uterine growth retardation (46%). Hydrocephaly was characterized by low oestriol excretion but not to the extent found with anencephaly. The fetus will have a major abnormality in approximately 1 in 30 pregnancies in which maternal oestriol excretion is subnormal. X‐ray of the fetus should precede Caesarean section for a fetal indication when maternal oestriol values are low.