Abstract
A thorough examination of feto-placental function should be done as a means for decreasing perinatal mortality which is frequent in diabetic pregnancies.
Radioimmunoassay of serum total estrogens was performed using rabbit anti serum made against estrone 17-0-Carboxymethyl-Oxime-BSA antigen, and the changes in serum total estrogens in seventeen diabetic and seventy normal pregnant women were studied.
The serum total estrogens in the diabetic pregnancy increased significantly from the first trimester towards the third trimester and the same changes were observed in non diabeticpregnants. Mean values of total estrogens in diabetic pregnancies were 1.67±0.76 (HiSD) ng/m/in the first, 13.52±4.91 in the second, and 24.3±7.84 in the third trimester.
Serum total estrogens, measured serially in eight of the eleven diabetics throughout pregnancy, increased with the progression of pregnancy. These changes were parallel with those of HPL which was measured on the same samples.
Total estrogens showed episodical secretion for a short time. This episodical secretion was more significant in the third trimester than in the second
These results show that the determination of serum total estrogens could be an excellent index of feto-placental function because of it's easy sampling, minimum serum requirement and simple assay method.
