Probing the fetal cardiac signal for antecedents of brain injury.
Obstetric care providers and researchers have long relied on analysis of the fetal heart rate tracing for insight into the fetal neurologic status. Although a normal fetal heart rate tracing does provide reassurance of intact neurologic function, an abnormal pattern is a very poor predictor of newborn brain injury. Indeed, if the clinical end point of interest is cerebral palsy, a non-reassuring fetal heart rate tracing has a 99% false positive rate. More recent analyses of fetal heart rate variability and fetal ECG waveforms, however, hold promise for improved diagnostic accuracy.
Wolfberg
Adam J
AJ
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts Box 360, 800 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111, USA. awolfberg@tuftsmedicalcenter.org
Norwitz
Errol R
ER
D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005311:Fetal Hypoxia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005323:Fetal Monitoring; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors