ABSTRACT
The most common application of the measurement of estrogens in pregnant women is to assist in the clinical management of women whose pregnancies are complicated by any of a group of conditions known from past experience to carry an increased risk of perinatal mortality. Estrogens are found in maternal urine conjugated with glucosiduronic acid or as esters of sulfuric acid. It is doubtful whether a complete analysis of the estrogens in pregnancy urine has ever been achieved. With the aid of methods of improved sensitivity, some progress has been made in the analysis of the different forms of estrogen in maternal plasma. Estrogens in this compartment are found in the free form or as conjugates of glucosiduronic or sulfuric acid or both. Estrogens have been measured in amniotic fluid after acid hydrolysis, when conjugated plus free estrogens are included in the results, and after enzyme hydrolysis when the relative proportions of the different conjugates are reported.
