title: Placental function, fetal distress, and the fetal/placental weight ratio in normal and gestotic pregnancies.
abstract: The ratio between fetal and placental weight is often thought to be a measure of the reserve capacity of the placenta. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between 1) endocrinologic parameters during pregnancy (serum placental lactogen - HPL, urinary estriol - E3), 2) the occurrence of fetal distress during labor, and 3) the severity of EPH gestosis, and the fetal/placental weight ratio at various gestational ages. The data from a total of 4911 consecutive pregnancies and deliveries were evaluated. Up to 37 weeks the mean fetal/placental weight ratio was significantly lower in infants with fetal distress. Up to 32 weeks there was a positive correlation between the percentage of women with low HPL and E2 levels and the percentage of infants with fetal distress, and the gestosis index. In addition there was a significant increase in the mean fetal/placental weight ratio in the group with moderate and severe gestosis. With advancing gestational age fetal/placental weight ratios were independent of the severity of EPH gestosis. It is concluded that until 37 weeks fetal distress is associated with a significant lower fetal/placental weight ratio. The morphologic and functional changes in placentas of gestotic pregnancies do not manifest themselves in either an increase or a decrease of the mean fetal/placental weight ratio after 33 weeks.
mesh_terms: D004964:Estriol / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000209:etiology*; D005333:Fetus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D009929:Organ Size; D010920:Placenta / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D010925:Placental Function Tests; D010928:Placental Lactogen / Q000097:blood; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D010928:Placental Lactogen; D004964:Estriol