Predictive value of a single unstressed antepartum cardiotocogram in apparently uncomplicated pregnancy. Introduction of a new cardiotocography score.

Antepartum CTGs were recorded in 88 pregnant women in the 36th week of pregnancy, approximately. The CTGs were evaluated according to three different CTG scoring systems. A new CTG score in now presented. The three systems are compared according to their ability to predict retarded intra-uterine growth. Nine infants were born small-for-date; 8 of these had suspect CTG. In 7 of these cases reduced variability was present for more than 25% of the registration time. When variability is reduced for more than 25% of the registration time there is a statistically significantly higher rate of infants born small-for-date (p less than 0.001). Fifty per cent of those fetuses that did no move spontaneously during registration were born small-for-date. When accelerations were present, 94% of the infants were born normal-for-date. Low estriol and/or low hPL levels were found in 5 of 9 cases where the infants were born small-for-date. Low estriol/hPL and/or suspect CTG were found in all cases of infants born small-for-date. When estriol, hPL and CTG were normal, no infants were born small-for-date.