Meconium-stained liquor during labor is associated with raised neonatal cord blood 8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha concentration.
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.
Liu
Bao Yi
BY
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Wang
Chi Chiu
CC
Lau
Tze Kin
TK
Chu
Ching Yan
CY
Phil
M
M
Pang
Chi Pui
CP
Rogers
Michael Scott
MS
Leung
Tse Ngong
TN
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
D015415:Biomarkers; C075750:8-epi-prostaglandin F2alpha; D015237:Dinoprost