title: Meconium-stained liquor during labor is associated with raised neonatal cord blood 8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha concentration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare the umbilical arterial 8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha, concentrations between pregnancies that were complicated by moderate or thick meconium-stained liquor and those with clear liquor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Umbilical cord arterial blood samples were collected from 247 singleton pregnancies with either moderate or thick meconium-stained liquor at any stage of labor or clear liquor at all stages of labor for the determination of the total 8-iso-prostaglandins F2alpha concentration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median total 8-iso-prostaglandins F2alpha concentration of the meconium-stained liquor group was significantly higher than that of the control group (719.2 vs 115.8 pg/mL). Among the meconium-stained liquor group, those who had a change from "clear liquor" at early labor to "moderate/ thick meconium-stained liquor" at late first stage or at delivery (late meconium-stained liquor group) had higher 8-iso-prostaglandins F2alpha concentration, compared with those who had moderate/ thick meconium-stained liquor since early labor (early meconium-stained liquor group; 959.8 vs 499.9 pg/mL). With the use of multiple regression analysis, meconium-stained liquor, duration of second stage of labor, and abnormal fetal heart tracings were independent determinants of cord blood 8-iso-prostaglandins F2alpha concentration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Moderate or thick meconium-stained liquor is an independent factor for increased oxidative stress in pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Bao Yi
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chi Chiu
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Tze Kin
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Ching Yan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Phil
authors.forename: Chi Pui
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Michael Scott
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Tse Ngong
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Leung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008470:Meconium; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C075750:8-epi-prostaglandin F2alpha; D015237:Dinoprost