title: Differences in levels of oxidative stress in mothers and neonate: the impact of mode of delivery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine there are differences in the production levels of oxygen free radical between mothers and neonates by the mode of delivery, we measured oxygen free radical concentrations in maternal vein and umbilical artery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four women with singleton term pregnancies were prospectively recruited and classified into two groups: those who had a spontaneous uncomplicated vaginal delivery (VD group; n = 21), and those who had an elective cesarean delivery (CD group; n = 23). We determined maternal and fetal oxidative stress levels by measuring concentrations of derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) in maternal vein before delivery and on postnatal day 5, and in umbilical artery at delivery. We also measured the pH, partial pressure of oxygen (PaO₂), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO₂) and base excess (BE) in umbilical artery blood collected at delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The concentrations of d-ROMs in maternal vein on postnatal day 5 were significantly decreased in the VD group, but were significantly increased in the CD group, compared to before delivery. The concentrations of d-ROMs in umbilical artery were significantly higher in the VD group than the CD group. Compared to the CD group, umbilical artery pH tended to be lower (p = 0.07), and BE significantly lower (p < 0.005), in the VD group. There were no significant differences in umbilical artery PaO₂ and PaCO₂ between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that those production levels of oxygen free radical in mothers are greater by CD than by VD, while those in neonates are greater by VD than by CD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine , Aichi , Japan.
authors.forename: Kazushi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Ai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: Toshitaka
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Chiharu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsushita
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shinohara
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wakatsuki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species