Purpose of estriol determination

Estriol measurement, also known as prenatal urine estriol measurement, is a relatively important examination and is usually performed during pregnancy. The purpose of measuring estriol is to determine whether the placenta is functioning normally, or whether the fetus has certain diseases, such as stillbirth, deformity, and epilepsy. Therefore, in order to ensure the healthy development of the child in the mother's body, it is necessary to conduct estriol testing.

1. What is the measurement of estriol in pregnancy urine?

Estrogen is produced primarily by the ovaries and placenta, with a small amount coming from the adrenal glands. After secretion, estrogen is inactivated and metabolized in the liver and excreted in the urine through the kidneys. Estriol is a type of estrogen, mainly secreted by mature follicles and corpus luteum in the ovaries, and mainly secreted by the placenta during pregnancy. Estriol is important for understanding the function of the placenta and identifying fetal diseases.

2. Clinical Significance

Reducing the E3 content in normal full-term pregnancy, if it is below 37nmol/24h (10mg/24h) for multiple consecutive times, it indicates that the placental function is impaired; if it is below 22.2nmol/24h (6mg/24h), it indicates that the placental function is significantly impaired, but it should be considered that the production and excretion of E3 are affected by multiple factors. E3 reduction is also seen in fetal adrenal hypoplasia, anencephaly, and liver and kidney dysfunction in pregnant women. In addition, people living in plateau areas also have low urinary E3. Increased levels are seen in fetal congenital hyperadrenocortical disease, macrosomia or multiple pregnancies, maternal-fetal blood type incompatibility (the level may be slightly higher or normal when the fetus is near death). In addition, when diabetes is complicated by pregnancy, the fetus is overweight and urine E3 may be slightly higher or normal. If the changes in urine E3 can be observed in a functional state, it will still be of practical significance for understanding the function of the placenta.

3. Related diseases

Male sexual dysfunction syndrome in cirrhosis, post-term pregnancy, irregular menstruation, pregnancy complicated with diabetes, and cerebrohepatorenal syndrome.

4. Related symptoms

Gesture automatism, hyperthyroidism during pregnancy, stillbirth, prurigo gravidarum, ascites, nausea and vomiting, hermaphroditism, delayed sexual development, precocious puberty, epilepsy and epileptic seizures.

5. Notes

(1) Urine retention must be accurate. (2) When the following drugs are used for treatment, the test results may be affected, such as ampicillin, antispirin, anthracene, methenamine mixture, prednisone, diuretics, etc., and urine samples should be collected after stopping the drugs. (3) Urine should not be retained during severe diarrhea.