[Pathological liver enzyme values--a suitable warning symptom of imminent intrauterine fetal death in EPH gestosis]

Liver functions (bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT, alkaline phosphatase) and electrolyte changes (sodium+, potassium+, calcium+) were tested in a prospective study in all patients admitted to the First Department of the Hospital of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University of Vienna, throughout 24 months, for moderate, medium or severe EPH gestosis as well as in pregnant women admitted for intra-uterine foetal death. All 102 cases were subdivided by three groups by severity of gestational toxicosis. A somewhat expected insight was gained from comparison of the three groups, in that aggravated severity of EPH gestosis symptoms was accompanied by higher incidence of pathological liver findings. A comparison between these findings, obtained from existing but impaired pregnancies, and findings obtained from women with intra-uterine foetal death showed that certain limit values were pathological, as were some of the routine findings. --Action should be taken to speed up the course of labour and complete delivery, as soon as thresholds are exceeded in foetuses with mature lungs, in order to prevent intrauterine foetal death.