Atrial natriuretic factor concentration in normal, growth-retarded, anemic, and hydropic fetuses.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to establish a reference range with gestation for plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic factor in fetal blood and to examine whether the concentration is altered in fetal anemia, acidemia, or hydrops.


METHODS
Atrial natriuretic factor was measured in umbilical venous blood taken by cordocentesis from pregnancies complicated by red blood cell isoimmunization (n = 17), intrauterine growth retardation (n = 12), and hydrops fetalis (n = 20) and from controls (n = 66). Additionally, maternal blood atrial natriuretic factor concentration was measured in 40 uncomplicated pregnancies.


RESULTS
In the control group detectable levels were found from 16 weeks onward, and the fetal plasma atrial natriuretic factor concentration did not change with gestation. In anemic, acidemic, and hydropic fetuses the concentration was higher than in controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Fetuses are capable of producing atrial natriuretic factor under physiologic conditions, and the concentration is increased appropriately in pathologic states.
Ville
Y
Y
Harris Birthright Research Center for Fetal Medicine, King's College Hospital Medical School, United Kingdom.
Proudler
A
A
Abbas
A
A
Nicolaides
K
K
D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood*; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D017218:Cordocentesis; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood*; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015160:Hydrops Fetalis / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D012203:Rh Isoimmunization / Q000097:blood
D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin