Abstract
Vaginal smears obtained from 30 normal pregnant women, 26 threatened abortion and one spontaneous abortion patients were observed to discuss the significance of vaginal cytology for the prognosis of abortion.
1) During'normal pregnant state findings of vaginal cytology reflect exact hormonal conditions. Also in cases of threatened abortion, if they would be caused by hormonal factors, vaginal smears would reflect these factors.
2) In some indices which were used to indicate the placental function, navicular cell index was most useful. During normal pregnant state this index kept over 60 per cent for 10 to 36 weeks gestation.
3) In cases of threatened abortion which were caused by hormonal factors and gave the decreased navicular cell index, cases of over 40 per cent of index could be expected good prognosis. And therapy would be effective.
4) Prognosis was poor in cases which lost the tendency of placard formation of epithelial cells, and indicated low navicular cell index below 40 per cent.
5) Increase of navicular cell index after the treatment indicates good prognosis, and vice versa.
6) It is difficult to determine the prognosis of threatened abortion by superficial cell index, pyknotic index, and eosinophilic index.
7) It is impossible to determine the prognosis, if threatened abortion is not caused by hormonal insufficiency.
8) Inflammatory changes and cytolysis in vaginal cytology make it difficult to determine the prognosis by any index of vaginal smear which reflect the hormonal conditions.
