[Effect of hypertensive pregnancy complications on neonatal outcome of growth retarded fetuses].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy on the neonatal outcome of growth restricted fetuses. There is conflicting data on the effect of hypertension during pregnancy on the incidence of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and intraventricular hemorrhage. Some studies report a lower incidence of RDS and intraventricular hemorrhage in infants of hypertensive mothers, whereas other studies report a similar or higher incidence in infants born to hypertensive mothers.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective analysis of 220 growth restricted fetuses born between January 1, 1996 to July 1, 1997 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University-Hospital at Homburg/Saar. Data were obtained by review of the medical records. Growth restricted infants born to preeclamptic women or women with HELLP syndrome were compared to growth restricted fetuses born to mothers without hypertensive disorders.


RESULTS
Growth restricted fetuses born to hypertensive mothers had a significant lower birth weight (p < 0.05). The incidence of RDS in children born to hypertensive mothers was significantly higher (p < 0.05, p < 0.01) and they stayed significantly longer in the neonatal intensive care unit (p < 0.01). In contrast to infants born to mothers with HELLP syndrome (n = 7) there was no difference in the incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage, infection, sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis or cardiac complications (arrhythmia, insufficiency) in case of preeclampsia (n = 68). The perinatal mortality of infants born to hypertensive mothers was significantly higher (p < 0.05, p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
This study does not support the contention that hypertensive disorders in pregnancy have a beneficial effect on the postnatal course of IUGR infants.
Axt
R
R
Universitäts-Frauenklinik und Poliklinik mit Hebammenlehranstalt Homburg/Saar.
Boos
R
R
Babayan
A
A
Ertan
K
K
Schmidt
W
W
D000328:Adult; D001034:Apgar Score; D002423:Cause of Death; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles; D005260:Female; D017359:HELLP Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate