The blood flow velocity waveform in the fetal descending aorta; its relationship to fetal heart rate pattern, eye and body movements in normal pregnancy at 27-28 weeks of gestation.
In 13 normal pregnancies at 27-28 weeks of gestation the blood flow velocity waveform at the lower thoracic level of the fetal descending aorta was studied in relation to fetal heart rate pattern (FHRP), fetal eye movements (FEM) and fetal body movements (FBM). State parameter combinations in which high fetal heart rate (FHR) variability was present, were associated with a significant reduction in pulsatility index (PI) as compared with periods in which low FHR variability was present, irrespective of FEM and FBM, indicating a reduced peripheral vascular resistance. At 27-28 weeks of gestation FHR variability and PI might be linked to baroreceptor sensitivity. PI values derived from combinations FHRP-A, FEM(-), FBM(-) and FHRP-B, FEM(+), FBM(+) showed a significant inverse relationship (P less than 0.05) with FHR. FHR and FHR variability should be taken into account when studying flow velocity waveforms in the fetal descending aorta at 27-28 weeks of gestation.
van Eyck
J
J
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Wladimiroff
J W
JW
Noordam
M J
MJ
Cheung
K L
KL
van den Wijngaard
J A
JA
Prechtl
H F
HF
D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000502:physiology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D005133:Eye Movements; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D009068:Movement; D011247:Pregnancy