Indicators of perinatal asphyxia.
Creatinine phosphokinase and its isoenzymes (myocardial-specific MB and brain-specific BB) are elevated in the presence of specific tissue injury. The value of this serum marker as an objective indicator of perinatal asphyxia was studied. Forty-nine patients with gestational ages ranging from 36 to 42 weeks were prospectively studied. Patients who by interpretation of the fetal heart rate tracing alone were diagnosed as having fetal distress demonstrated significantly lower pH (p = 0.001) and base excess (p less than 0.0001) in umbilical venous blood. Umbilical venous cord MB (p less than 0.05) and BB (p less than 0.01) were increased in this group. Abnormal fetal heart rate patterns correlate well with acid-base abnormalities and elevated creatinine phosphokinase values. These tests may demonstrate more efficient and improved indicators of tissue injury and damage from perinatal asphyxia than clinical observation alone.
Hollander
D I
DI
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore.
Wright
L
L
Nagey
D A
DA
Wright
J N
JN
Pupkin
M J
MJ
Koch
T
T
D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000032:analysis; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000175:diagnosis; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007527:Isoenzymes; D011247:Pregnancy
D007527:Isoenzymes; D003402:Creatine Kinase