title: Effects of vitamin E on the response of the fetal middle cerebral artery to the pressure test.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of the maternal administration of vitamin E on the vasoreactivity of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in preterm fetuses.
  
  
  METHODS
  The vasoconstrictive response of the proximal segment of the MCA to brief and partial external occlusions of the umbilical vein (pressure test) was studied in 22 fetuses between 21 and 35 weeks of gestation, before, and 3 to 7 days after, the maternal administration of oral vitamin E (50 mg daily).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The vasoconstrictive activity of the MCA was eliminated in 15 fetuses (68.2%), unchanged in six (27.3%), and decreased in one (4.5%). In the latter seven cases, vasoconstriction of the proximal MCA in response to the pressure test was eliminated by increasing the vitamin E dosage to 100 mg/day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin E administered to the mothers had a pronounced effect on the proximal MCA reactivity in preterm fetuses.
authors: Unit of Prenatal Diagnosis, Service of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xeral Hospital, Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain. clopezr@meditex.es
authors: C López
authors: CL
authors: Ramón
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Cajal
authors: R Ocampo
authors: RO
authors: Martínez
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011312:Pressure; D012212:Rheology; D024505:Tocopherols; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000502:physiology*; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D024505:Tocopherols