[The validity of HPL-determinations in prolonged pregnancy]

Till now there is no unequivocal diagnostic tool for the discovery of prolonged pregnancy. Therefore the present study was performed to evaluate whether HPL-values correlate with the presence of postmaturity syndrome in coherence with other known symptoms. 86 cases, partly with signs of postmaturity (n = 12), partly without such signs (n = 74), were compared with a non-postmature group. In prolonged pregnancy HPL-values were distinctly lower than at term. The more severe the condition, the lower were the HPL-values. There was a significant incidence of higher rates of meconium stained amniotic fluid beyond 42 weeks of gestation. After careful delivery the babies were generally in good condition. There was a slight shift to lower Apgar-values, but base excess and actual pH were found to be normal in umbilical artery. Birth-weights of the postmature infants did not show any differences to those born at term.