Laboratory Assessment of Diabetic Pregnancy: A Brief Review

Abstract

Pregnancy in the diabetic is at high risk. Recent efforts to improve perinatal mortality have principally been directed at establishing a laboratory assessment which could be used in the management of the diabetic pregnancy. Data on the hormones-estrogen, progesterone, human placental lactogen (HPL) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and on the enzymes-heat-stable alkaline phosphatase (HSAP) and diamine oxidase (DAO) are briefly reviewed for uncomplicated and for diabetic pregnancies. DIABETES 21: 31-38, January, 1972.