title: Lipid peroxidation in nuchal cord cases: implication for fetal distress.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether nuchal cord affects fetal lipid peroxidation and cord arterial blood gases, and thus to determine whether lipid peroxidation can show intrapartum distress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnant women giving birth to a baby with nuchal cord (n = 32) formed the study group and others without this condition made up the control group (n = 36). The maternal malondialdehyde levels (MDA) before and after delivery as well as fetal umbilical cord MDA and arterial blood gases were measured in both the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean cord MDA level was higher in the study group (p < 0.02) and was significantly higher than maternal MDA level after birth within the same group (p = 0.007). Cord blood gases as well as neonatal and labour characteristics showed no difference, except for variable decelerations, which were 2.2 times more common in the study group. Correlations between maternal MDA levels before and after delivery, umbilical cord MDA and arterial blood gases were non-significant in the nuchal cord group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During delivery, nuchal cord increases lipid peroxidation without causing significant fetal acidemia. Level of lipid peroxidation may be a more sensitive indicator of intrapartum distress than results of acid-base studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Onan
authors.forename: Mertihan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurdoglu
authors.forename: Banu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sancak
authors.forename: Neslihan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bukan
authors.forename: Mulazim
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yildirim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D053589:Nuchal Cord / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008315:Malondialdehyde