title: Which is the best placental function test? A comparison of placental lactogen and unconjugated oestriol in the prediction of intrauterine growth retardation.
abstract: Serum placental lactogen (hPL) and unconjugated oestriol (E3) levels were measured in 392 women at weekly intervals from 36-40 wk gestation. The levels of both hPL and E3 were reduced in subjects delivering a growth-retarded child. The clinical significance of this observation was similar for the two compounds, with a marginal advantage to hPL. There was a higher incidence of falling levels of hPL and E3 in cases of growth retardation but the finding had very little predictive value in an individual patient.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004964:Estriol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D010925:Placental Function Tests; D010928:Placental Lactogen / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D010928:Placental Lactogen; D004964:Estriol