title: Base deficit and oxygen transport in severe preeclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the relationship of anaerobic metabolism, as reflected by the calculated base deficit, with oxygen transport and left ventricular function in women with severe preeclampsia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty women with singleton pregnancies and severe preeclampsia who met prescribed criteria for invasive hemodynamic monitoring had arterial blood gas and hemodynamic values obtained immediately after placement of a pulmonary artery catheter. Oxygen transport indices were stratified according to the admission base deficit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Linear regression analysis demonstrated a strong negative correlation between the calculated base deficit and the oxygen delivery index (r = -0.64), cardiac index (r = -0.62), and left ventricular stroke work index (r = -0.58). A baseline maternal base deficit exceeding -8.0 mEq/L consistently predicted fetal acidosis, fetal death, and maternal end-organ ischemic injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The calculated base deficit reliably reflects maternal oxygen transport dynamics and identifies patients at risk for end-organ injury. Ventricular contractility and oxygen delivery decline with mounting oxygen debt.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Graves
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Troiano
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Reed
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left