[Blood lactate measurments as a diagnostic and prognostic tool after birth asphyxia in newborn infants with gestational age > or = 34 gestational weeks].

Unlabelled: Blood lactate at birth as result of activated anaerobic glycolysis is a marker of perinatal asphyxia.

Aim: To evaluate the dynamics of blood lactate, pH and base excess (BE) as a tool for assessing the severity of fetal hypoxia and predicting neonatal outcome.

Methods: 79 neonates (> or = 34 gestational weeks) were included and followed up until discharge: 43 with pathologic fetal hearth rate patterns and/or 1-minute Apgar score < 7 ("asphyxia group"); 36 without obstetric or clinical signs of asphyxia (control group).