Serum Estriol, human placental lactogen and fetal abdominal circumference as predictors of intra uterine growth retardation in pre-eclampsia

Intra-uterine growth retardation [IUGR] is one of the major causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality which is frequently associated with pre-eclampsia. In a trial to search for an ideal method to predict IUGR, this study was performed on 30 cases of pre-eclampsia [20 mild cases and 10 severe cases]. These patients were subjected to single estimation of estriol [E3] human placental lactogen [HPL] and ultrasonographic measurment of abdominal circumference [AC] at 32-36 weeks of gestation and the patients were followed up till time of delivery. This study showed that AC is the most sensitive parameter in prediction of IUGR than serum HPL and serum estriol where its specificity was 91.7% and sensitivity was 100%. Furtherome, it is a simple, non-invasive method and could be used as a routine method for screening of IUGR in high-risk pregnancy especially in pre-eclampsia

Tone of the umbilical cord: a clinical and histopathological study

This study was carried out on 30 women during labor to determine the Possible significance of the tone of the umbilical cord [UC] at birth with regard to the neonatal condition and whether the change of the tone is associated with any change in the UC histology. Immediately after birth, the tone of the UC was determined by gentle digital palpation. The neonatal condition was assessed by Apgar score. A piece of the UC was obtained by cutting after double clamping without miking. Then it was prepared and stained with hematoxyline and eosin; orcien. Masson's trichrome and periodic acid Schiff. This study showed a positive correlation between tone of the UC and neonatal Apgar score. As regards the histopathological changes, it was found that the muscle fibers of the media were widely separated by connective fibers in both umbilical artery and vein; also increased elastic fibers in subendothelial layer of the vein and its decrease in the arteries; and increased collagen fibers as compared to muscle fibers in arteries in cases showing poor UC tone