Vaginal and urinary cytology and blood hormonal examinations in patients with premature rupture of membranes

Vaginal smears and urinary sediments of 29 pregnant women in their third trimester with premature rupture of membranes (PRM) were examined. Plasma radioimmunoassays (RIA) for estriol, human chorionic gonadotropin, human placental lactogen and progesterone were performed. Twenty-three normal pregnant women in the third trimester, serving as controls, underwent the same examinations. The vaginal smears and urinary sediments were evaluated as reflecting disturbed, slightly disturbed and normal placental function. Good correlation was found between the vaginal smears showing the typical and suggestive aspects of PRM and the placental function reflected in the same smears and the respective urinary sediments. From the hormonal examinations performed, the plasma RIA for progesterone presented significantly lower results in the PRM cases than in the control group. The results obtained suggest a lowering of the placental function in cases with PRM as reflected in cytologic and hormonal examinations.