The predictive value of a nonstress test taken 24 h before delivery in high-risk pregnancies.
OBJECTIVE
A series of 180 cases of high risk pregnancies were studied in order to assess if a nonstress test taken 24 h before delivery is of any prognostic significance.


METHODS
To assess the predictability of the NST (reactive or nonreactive) in terms of fetal outcome, the following variables were taken into consideration: fetal distress during labor, low Apgar score (< 7) and perinatal mortality rate.


RESULTS
A reactive test was found to be a good predictor of the healthy fetus (negative predictive value = 91.2%). Also, specificity of the test was found to be 85.4%.


CONCLUSIONS
The nonreactive test could identify a population at risk but it was not helpful as a 'stand alone' modality in decision making, because of the low sensitivity and positive predictive value rates (40.9% and 28.1%, respectively).
Salamalekis
E
E
2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Areteion Hospital, Greece.
Vitoratos
N
N
Loghis
C
C
Mortakis
A
A
Zourlas
P A
PA
D001034:Apgar Score; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005323:Fetal Monitoring; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics; D011273:Pregnancy, Prolonged; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors