Capillary and venous blood estrogen in pregnancy.

Total estrogens in the third trimester of pregnancy were measured in matched samples of venous and capillary blood serum. A close correlation was observed between capillary blood estrogens (CBE) and venous blood estrogens (VBE). After establishing norms for CBE during the third trimester of normal pregnancy, the parameter was assessed for its use in high-risk pregnancy in comparison with VBE. In 96.6% of the 59 high-risk pregnancy cases studied, the conclusions drawn about the fetoplacental unit on the basis of CBE and VBE were similar.