Estriol serum levels, neonatal vitality and stromal villous edema in diabetic pregnancies.

Estriol serum levels, neonatal vitality and stromal villous edema were studied in diabetic pregnancies. The average serum estriol levels in diabetic patients whose placentas had villous edema was 26.45 +/- 9.16 ng/ml. This value was significantly lower than that of the diabetic patients without villous edema (59.26 +/- 12.06 ng/ml). The average serum estriol levels in diabetic patients who gave birth to depressed newborns was 25.68 +/- 9.73 ng/ml. In diabetic women who gave birth to vigorous newborns this value was 56.57 +/- 14.10 ng/ml. The difference was statistically significant. These results and similar findings from other authors are discussed.