The Value of Urinary Oestriol Estimation in Patients with Antepartum Haemorrhage

Summary The clinical results and patterns of urinary oestriol excretion in 139 consecutive patients with antepartum haemorrhage are presented. The perinatal mortality rate was 14.8% in the 54 patients with low oestriol excretion and was 4.7% in those with normal oestriol excretion. Persistently low oestriol values indicated the advisability of delivery before 37 weeks of gestation in 2 of the 36 patients with placentae praevia. In abruptio placentae the incidence of low oestriol excretion was quadruple that of a normal population, and 12 of 43 patients had consistently low oestriol values. Induction of labour was carried out because of low oestriol values alone in only 2 of 60 patients in whom the cause of bleeding was undetermined. Urinary oestriol estimation is of value in selecting the optimum time for delivery in patients with mild to moderate antepartum haemorrhage.