title: Computerized cardiotocography in pregnancies complicated by maternal asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate the FHR parameters in term pregnancies complicated by asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  prospective cross-sectional study performed between July 2008 and November 2009. Twenty-one singleton pregnancy between 36 and 40 weeks gestation with diagnosis of maternal asthma and no current use of oral corticosteroids were compared with 30 pregnancies without morbidities at the same gestational age. The computerized cardiotocography (System 8002, Sonicaid) was performed and 30 min analysis was studied. Statistical analysis included Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U test for comparisons between groups. Categorical data were compared using the χ(2)-test or Fisher's exact test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in FHR parameters analyzed by computerized cardiotocography: basal FHR (p = 0.80), number of accelerations >10 bpm (p = 0.08) or > 15 bpm (p = 0.20), duration of high episodes (p = 0.70), duration of low episodes (p = 0.46) and STV (p = 0.66). Asthmatic mothers presented mean number of fetal movement per hour significantly lower than control group (34.6 ± 28.2 vs. 60.6 ± 43.1, p = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Computerized cardiotocography demonstrates no association between the abnormal parameters of FHR and maternal asthma in term pregnancies. Maternal asthma was associated with less fetal movements per hour, suggesting further studies on the counting of fetal movements in pregnant women with asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Danielle S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Nemer
authors.forename: Roseli M Y
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Cristiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ortigosa
authors.forename: Adolfo W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zugaib
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015148:Cardiotocography; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult