Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Cord Blood from Growth Restricted Fetuses with Doppler Alteration Compared to Adequate for Gestational Age Fetuses.

: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a severe obstetric disease characterized by a low fetal size entailing a set of undesired consequences. For instance, previous studies have noticed a worrisome association between FGR with an abnormal neurodevelopment. However, the precise link between FGR and neurodevelopmental alterations are not yet fully understood yet.

Influence of Cerebral Vasodilation on Blood Reelin Levels in Growth Restricted Fetuses.

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is one of the most important obstetric pathologies. It is frequently caused by placental insufficiency. Previous studies have shown a relationship between FGR and impaired new-born neurodevelopment, although the molecular mechanisms involved in this association have not yet been completely clarified.

Maternal high-dose valacyclovir and its correlation with newborn blood viral load and outcome in congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

Background/objective: Currently, there is no validated treatment for fetal cytomegalovirus (CMV). Two studies suggest that high-dose maternal valacyclovir decreases fetal viral load and improves outcomes in moderately-symptomatic fetuses. We offered valacyclovir in cases of fetal infection lacking ultrasound abnormalities or with non-severe infection.

Deceleration area and fetal acidemia.

Aims: To compare the predictive ability for neonatal acidemia of individual components of intrapartum cardiotocography (CTG) described by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) system and deceleration area.

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: Spanish tertiary obstetrical hospital.

Diagnostic Accuracy of the FIGO and the 5-Tier Fetal Heart Rate Classification Systems in the Detection of Neonatal Acidemia.

 The objective of this study was to determine ability to detect neonatal acidemia and interobserver agreement with the FIGO 3-tier and 5-tier fetal heart rate (FHR) classification systems.  This was a case-control study.  This study was set at the University Medical Center.

pH, base deficit or lactate. Which is better for predicting neonatal morbidity?

Objective: To determine which parameter of the umbilical arterial cord gas analysis, pH, base deficit (BD) or lactate has a bigger predictive ability for neonatal morbidity at term.

Method: We conducted a four-year retrospective cohort study including all non-anomalous, singleton, vertex, term births with neonatal acidemia (umbilical arterial cord gas pH ≤ 7.1).

Diagnostic accuracy of fetal scalp lactate for intrapartum acidosis compared with scalp pH.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of fetal scalp lactate sampling (FSLS) and to establish an optimal cut-off value for intrapartum acidosis compared with fetal scalp pH.

Methods: A 20-month retrospective cohort study was conducted of all neonates delivered in our institution for whom fetal scalp blood sampling (FSBS) was performed, matching their intrapartum gasometry to their cord gasometry at delivery (n=243). The time taken from the performance of scalp blood sampling to arterial umbilical cord gas acquisition was 45 min at most.

Atypical decelerations: do they matter?

Objective: To estimate the association between atypical variable decelerations and neonatal acidemia.

Method: We conducted a one-year case-control study comparing the last thirty minutes before delivery of fetal heart rate tracings of 102 acidemic neonates (umbilical arterial cord gas pH ≤ 7.10) with 100 non-acidemic controls (umbilical arterial cord gas pH > 7.