title: Reverse flow in the human fetal descending aorta as a sign of severe fetal asphyxia preceding intrauterine death.
abstract: Flow velocity waveforms (FVW) in the descending part of the human fetal aorta were monitored in 35 cases of severe intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) showing pathological intrauterine circulation (end-diastolic block). In 5 of the 35 fetuses, reversed aortic flow was observable during diastole and the simultaneously recorded CTG findings were pathological. All 5 fetuses having this circulatory sign died in utero within the next day. Controls were 260 healthy fetuses with normal growth curves; no end-diastolic block or reverse flow was found in this group. Diastolic reverse flow in the fetal descending aorta appears to reflect severely altered circulation preceding imminent fetal death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Postgraduate Medical University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Illyés
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gáti
mesh_terms: D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000502:physiology; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000150:complications; D005311:Fetal Hypoxia / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D014463:Ultrasonography