Oestriol excretion in pregnant diabetics related to long-term prognosis of surviving children.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Urinary 24-hour oestriol excretion in pregnant diabetics were studied in 154 pregnancies resulting in 158 surviving children. Subnormal oestriol levels were found in 33 pregnancies associated with low birth weight, but otherwice widely independent on pre- and perinatal factors. Results of follow-up study of the complete infant material at ages varying from 1 8/12 to 10 1/12 years were related to maternal oestriol excretion levels in relevant pregnancies. The incidence of children with major abnormalities in the subnormal oestriol group (39.4 %) was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than in the normal oestriol group (16.0 %). The incidence of cerebral damaged children in the subnormal oestriol group (51.5%) was significantly higher (P <0.01) than in the normal oestriol group (22.4 %). There was no significant difference in distribution of congenital malformations. Correlations of maternal White class, pre- and perinatal complications and birth weight with oestriol levels and results of follow-up study reflected the distribution in the total series with higher incidence of abnormal children in the subnormal oestriol fractions.