title: The oxytocin challenge test and antepartum fetal assessment.
abstract: The oxytocin challenge test (OCT) was performed 537 times on 364 high-risk patients over a three-year period. It was shown that a positive test had a highly significant correlation with a worsened perinatal outcome as measured by stillbirth rate, fetal distress in labour, intrauterine growth retardation, Apgar scores and the need for neonatal resuscitation and intensive care. However, one-third of positive tests were falsely positive when tested by labour. A negative test proved reassuring for a further week of intrauterine life in 98.2 per cent of cases. The role of the OCT in antepartum fetal monitoring is discussed.
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000175:diagnosis; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000175:diagnosis; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin