Radioimmunological determination of oestetrol in plasma in normal and pathological pregnancies

The radioimmunological method presented for the determination of oestetrol is suitable for measuring the concentration of this hormone in the plasma. Measuring range, accuracy and precision are comparable to those of other methods. This method will be as easy to handle as the oestriol determination method if a specific antiserum is available. The concentration of oestetrol in normal pregnancy ranges between 0.745 ng/ml in the 22nd pregnancy week and 2.501 ng/ml in the 40th p.w. when determined by means of the unspecific antiserum I; when using the specific antiserum II, it ranges between 0.267 ng/ml in the 22nd p.w. and 1.370 ng/ml in the 40th p.w., oestetrol plasma level hardly changes until the 30th p.w.; afterwards the level rises continuously till the end of gestation period. A daily rhythm was not found for oestetrol. A rapid drop in hormone concentration occurs when treated with betamethasone, β-sympathomimetics and ampicillin; however, hormon concentration begins to increase soon afterwards. Patients suffering from diabetes mellitus do not show the course of the oestetrol plasma level to deviate from the normal range. In cases of infra-uterine development insufficiency, children having a birth weigth below 25 and above 10 percentile according to Lubchenco reveal a rise in concentration corresponding to the norm. Children revealing a additional symptoms of dystrophy have an average hormone concentration lower by about one third. Patients whose children reveal a birth weight below the 10 percentile according to Lubchenco, do not show any further increase in the concentration of this hormone after the 35th p.w. (orig./MG)