ABSTRACT
The plasma levels of hpl and estriol were measured in normal pregnants and complicated pregnacies using radio-immunoassay methods. It can be suggested that maternal plasma hpl and estriol values deviated from normal when the pregnancies complicated by conditions that diminish functional placental mass, low hpl and estriol values correlate to some extent with faetal outcome in complicated pregnancies. Elevated values in third trimester pregnancies may be helpful in identifying multiple gestations while hpl and estriol values are of little help in controlled diabetic where the major fetal risks are unrelated to chronic placental insufficiency. The clinical value of the. measurment of hpl and estriol is virtully identical. While the complication of both hpl estriol was found to be the best indicator of high risk pregnancies. Finaly from our results pregnancies complicated by IUGR, PET, hypertension, IUFD, post-maturity and diabetes mellitus where the fetus may be in jeopardy, hpl and estriol determination can be used by the obstetricions as an aid in deciding whether to allow a pregnancy to continue or to terminate it