Correlation of Amniotic Fluid Estriol with Fetal Age and Well-Being

Because of the shortcomings associated with urinary and plasma estriol determinations, a pilot study was designed to perfect the measurement of estriol in amniotic fluid and to correlate the results with fetal gestational age and urinary estriol patterns. From 52 patients, ranging from 16 to 43 weeksʼ gestation, 57 amniotic fluid samples were obtained. In 20 instances, 24-hour urinary estriol was determined concomitantly. The relationship between length of pregnancy and concentration of estriol in amniotic fluid was statistically significant. However, no close linear correlation could be shown statistically when urinary and amniotic fluid estriol determinations were compared.