Antepartum heart rate patterns in small-for-gestational-age third-trimester fetuses:correlation with blood gas values obtained at cordocentesis

Article Abstract:

Fetal well-being can be assessed by monitoring fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns. Abnormal patterns have been associated with lack of oxygen supply to the fetus (hypoxemia) and excess acid in fetal blood (fetal acidemia). Cordocentesis is a method of removing a sample of fetal blood to measure the percent of circulating carbon dioxide and oxygen, the fetal blood gases, as an index of fetal-well being. The relationship between FHR patterns and blood gas determinations was studied in 58 small-for-gestational-age fetuses (SGA, smaller than 90 percent of the infants at a given time of pregnancy) and 29 appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) fetuses. FHR patterns were measured before cordocentesis and blood gas determinations between the 27 and 38th weeks of pregnancy. FHR patterns were classified and related to fetal blood gases. All AGA fetuses had normal blood gases and FHR patterns. Of the SGA fetuses, 15 out of 19 were acidemic, hypoxemic or both. Abnormal cord blood gases were associated with changes in the FHR patterns. However, low normal percent oxygen obtained by cordocentesis was found in many of the SGA fetuses having normal FHR patterns. Therefore, FHR monitoring may be an unreliable screening tool. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Evaluation, Measurement, Physiological aspects, Infants, Growth, Fetal heart rate monitoring, Electronic fetal monitoring, Fetal development, Fetal anoxia, Blood gases

---

Cordocentesis in the diagnosis of intrauterine starvation

Article Abstract:

Cordocentesis is the process of obtaining and analyzing the blood found in the umbilical cord during pregnancy. Fetuses that are small for their gestational age (SGA) may be deprived of necessary nutrients, causing intrauterine starvation and poor fetal growth. A disease of early childhood, kwashiorkor, can develop when children are deprived of amino acids, resulting in a protein deficiency and malnutrition. The intake of essential amino acids by the fetus may be compromised by an insufficient placenta. The glycine-valine ratio is used to measure imbalances in amino acid intake in malnourished children. It is suggested that the glycine-valine ratio is disturbed in SGA fetuses. The glycine-valine ratio and oxygen content, an indicator of placental functioning, were measured in the cord blood of 28 SGA fetuses. The ratio of glycine to valine was high and fetal oxygen was low in SGA fetuses when compared with normal fetuses. These imbalances are similar to those found in children with kwashiorkor. Placental insufficiency and inadequate blood supply to the fetus impairs the transport of essential nutrients in SGA fetuses.

Usage, Causes of, Complications and side effects, Placental diseases, Placenta diseases, Fetal malnutrition

---

Fetal growth retardation: associated malformations and chromosomal abnormalities

Article Abstract:

Different chromosomal abnormalities may cause fetal growth retardation. Among 458 fetuses who underwent evaluation for growth retardation at 17 to 40 weeks of gestation, 89 (19%) had chromosomal abnormalities and 369 (81%) did not. Triploidy, or the presence of three complete sets of chromosomes instead of two, was the most common chromosomal abnormality among fetuses less than 26 weeks old. Trisomy 18, or an extra copy of chromosome 18, was the most common abnormality among fetuses over 26 weeks old. Multiple malformations were detected in 96% of the fetuses with chromosomal abnormalities. Fetuses with chromosomal abnormalities were more likely to have an inappropriately normal or increased amount of amniotic fluid compared with fetuses without chromosomal abnormalities.

Chromosome abnormalities

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Hypertriglyceridemia and hypoxemia in small-for-gestational-age fetuses. Blood gases, pH, and lactate in appropriate- and small-for- gestational-age fetuses

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.