title: Fetal biophysical profile and cerebro-umbilical ratio in assessment of brain damage in growth restricted fetuses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationship between fetal biophysical profile (FBP), Doppler cerebro-umbilical (C/U) ratio and neonatal neurosonography in growth restricted newborns.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study included 87 growth restricted fetuses from 28 to 42 weeks of gestation. The FBP and C/U ratio were assessed twice a week. Within 48h and on the seventh day after birth, neonatal neurosonography was performed as the outcome parameter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Brain damage was detected, by neurosonography, in 34 newborns with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Severe periventricular echodensities (PVE) were ultrasonographically verified in eleven infants. Intraventricular or intraparenchymal hemorrhage (severe intracranial hemorrhage ICH) was detected in seven infants, and subependymal hemorrhage (SEH) in nine infants with IUGR. Porencephalic cysts, as a result of chronic intrauterine hypoxia, were found in four infants, and brain atrophy was detected in one case. Nonspecific ultrasonographic changes were observed in two newborns. The FBP and C/U ratio were statistically significantly associated with neurosonographicaly verified neonatal brain lesions (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The FBP and the C/U ratio represent the useful indicators for early detection and assessment of fetal hypoxia. They may also be parameters for the prediction of neonatal neurosonography findings in newborns with IUGR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Hospital Osijek, Croatia. dubravko.habek@bj.hinet.hr
authors.forename: Dubravko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Habek
authors.forename: Domagoj
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jugović
authors.forename: Branko
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hodek
authors.forename: Radoslav
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.forename: Anija
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maticević
authors.forename: Jasna Cerkez
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Habek
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pisl
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salihagić
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005311:Fetal Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*