title: High-resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy of amniotic fluids from spina bifida fetuses and controls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify proton containing metabolites by in vitro 1H NMR spectroscopy of amniotic fluids from fetuses with spina bifida and controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen amniotic fluids from spina bifida fetuses and 18 controls were obtained. Concentrations of carbohydrates, organic acids and amino acids were determined. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 15 and 39 weeks amenorrhea, the estimated median amniotic fluid concentrations of succinic acid and glutamine were significantly higher in the spina bifida group compared to controls, 37 and 64%, respectively. Whereas creatine and creatinine were significantly lower, 27 and 36%, respectively. Amenorrhea influenced the concentrations of most compounds with the exception of lactic acid.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  1H NMR spectroscopy shows significantly higher succinic acid and glutamine concentrations in amniotic fluids derived from spina bifida fetuses compared with controls. A derangement in amino acid metabolism is suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University Medical Center Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Pascal M W
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Groenen
authors.forename: Udo F
authors.initials: UF
authors.lastname: Engelke
authors.forename: Ron A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Wevers
authors.forename: Jan C M
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hendriks
authors.forename: Tom K A B
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Eskes
authors.forename: Hans M W M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Merkus
authors.forename: Régine P M
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Steegers-Theunissen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000649:Amniocentesis; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D015415:Biomarkers; D002241:Carbohydrates