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.