Oestriol Excretion in the Pregnancy Complicated by Diabetes Mellitus

Summary: Urinary oestriol excretion was studied throughout 93 diabetic pregnancies. Low levels of excretion (38%) were common to all clinical categories of diabetes and were not influenced by either the duration or severity of the disease.
The overall perinatal loss was 13%; the incidence was 7% in patients with normal excretion values and 23% in those with low values. Six of the 8 deaths associated with low oestriol excretion occurred after birth and all were due to the respiratory distress syndrome. Low assays may warn of impending intra-uterine death, but intervention may not be possible. A normal excretion level should not, however, permit a complacent attitude.