Human Placental Lactogen: The Watchdog of Fetal Distress

Macrosomia in Pregnancy Complicated by Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

“…Serum 7-human placental lactogen (HPL) was determined by radioimmunoassay (15), and urinary estriol-to-creatinine ratios were measured by a fluorescence method (with the Kober reaction) at 34 wk gestation (16). HbA, was measured by agar-gel electrophoresis (Glytrac, Corning Glass Works, Corning, NY).…”

The value of serial estimations of placental lactogen for fetoplacental function testing in the diagnosis of intra-uterine growth retardation

“…The association of low HPL and intra-uterine growth retardation is well-established (Saxena et al., 1969;Letchworth and Chard, 1972;Yates, 1973;England et al, 1974;Edwards et al, 1978;Gordon et al, 1978;Obiekwe and Chard, 1982).…”

Prognostic Value of Fetoplacental Function Tests: A Review1

“…Teoh et al (1971) showed that in pregnancies complicated by hypertension, a serum HPL of less than 4 Ilg/ml was associated with an incidence of 24% intrauterine deaths in mild hypertension, and with 48% of intrauterine deaths in severe hypertension. Several workers have reported that when HPL levels are abnormally low there is an increased incidence of dysmature babies, the range in different papers being 55-71 % (Spellacy et al 1976, England et al 1974, Lindberg & Nilsson 1973, Hensleigh et al 1978. A persistently low serum HPL has also been shown to be associated with an increased incidence of fetal distress in labour, ranging from 43% (England et al 1974) to 71% (Letchworth & Chard 1972).…”

“…Several workers have reported that when HPL levels are abnormally low there is an increased incidence of dysmature babies, the range in different papers being 55-71 % (Spellacy et al 1976, England et al 1974, Lindberg & Nilsson 1973, Hensleigh et al 1978. A persistently low serum HPL has also been shown to be associated with an increased incidence of fetal distress in labour, ranging from 43% (England et al 1974) to 71% (Letchworth & Chard 1972). In other papers where abnormal fetal outcome was defined as either dysmaturity, fetal distress or neonatal asphyxia, low serum HPL levels in pregnancy were reported as being associated with an increased incidence of abnormal fetal outcome ranging from 27% to 43%, and with less than 10% of false positives (Kelly et al 1975, Garoff & Seppala 1976, Josimovich et al 1977.…”