Effect of labour and delivery on plasma hepatic enzymes in the newborn.
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship between cord blood hepatic enzymes and obstetric and neonatal outcome in a Chinese population.


METHODS
The study group consisted of 288 low-risk Chinese women with singleton term pregnancies. The following enzymes were assayed in cord blood: lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glutamyl transferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transferase (ALT). These were correlated to maternal and neonatal characteristics.


RESULTS
A strong correlation was noted between cord blood AST and LDH (R = 0.582, p < 0.01), which was absent amongst those infants delivered by elective cesarean section. LDH, AST and ALT were negatively correlated with cord arterial pH and base excess (BE). GGT was inversely related only to gestational age (R = -0.18, p < 0.01). Both LDH and AST were weakly correlated with the duration of the first and second stages of labour. LDH was most closely linked to arterial pH, whereas AST was related to both arterial BE and duration of the second stage.


CONCLUSIONS
The reference values are comparable to those published for Caucasian populations. There are moderate elevations in LDH and AST associated with the onset of labour and changes in acid-base status.
Mongelli
M
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
Kwan
Y
Y
Kay
L L
LL
Hjelm
M
M
Rogers
M S
MS
D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D044466:Asian People; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000097:blood*; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012016:Reference Values; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase