Abstract
Serum human placental lactogen (HPL) levels were serially determined by a solid-phase radioimmunoassay technique. A total of 1,595 samples were obtained on 1,100 women with high-risk pregnancies. The infants were monitored during labor for signs of intrapartum distress. There was no relationship found between the HPL levels and the fetal heart rate patterns recorded during more than 400 hours of labor by continuous invasive electronic techniques. There was also no relationship between the HPL levels and the 5 minute neonatal Apgar score. There was a positive and significant correlation between the level of HPL one day before labor and the one-minute Apgar score. In addition, there were significantly more lower HPL values found in those pregnancies with meconium-stained amniotic fluid and a vertex presentation. These results suggest that HPL may be clinically useful as a placental function test but also that it cannot be the only tool used for the selection of patients for intrapartum biophysical fetal monitoring.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call