Coenzyme Q10 fetal plasma levels.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims at determining a cutoff value differentiating the fetal from the adult coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) values and comparing substantial increases in CoQ10 plasma levels in fetuses with hypoxic hypoxia and nonimmune fetal hydrops.


METHODS
We have selected 61 pregnancies and determined the CoQ10 levels in fetal and maternal samples obtained by cordocentesis. Our study included a control group and pregnancies with intrauterine growth retardation, Rh isoimmunization, nonimmune fetal hydrops, and fetal malformations.


RESULTS
To differentiate the fetal from the adult values we have set 0.3 mg/ml as the cutoff value. The CoQ10 were higher only in fetuses with hypoxic hypoxia and nonimmune hydrops.


CONCLUSIONS
Normal fetal CoQ10 plasma levels are lower than 0.3 mg/ml.
Noia
G
G
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Romano
D
D
De Santis
M
M
Mariorenzi
S
S
Caruso
A
A
Mancuso
S
S
D003067:Coenzymes; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000097:blood; D017218:Cordocentesis; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood; D005311:Fetal Hypoxia / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D015160:Hydrops Fetalis / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D012203:Rh Isoimmunization / Q000097:blood; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood
D003067:Coenzymes; D014451:Ubiquinone; C024989:coenzyme Q10