Validation of functional fetal autonomic brain age score fABAS in 5 min short recordings.
With the objective of evaluating the functional maturation age and developmental disturbances we have previously introduced the fetal autonomic brain age score (fABAS) using 30 min fetal magnetocardiographic recordings (fMCG, Jena). The score is based on heart rate pattern indices that are related to universal principles of developmental biology. The present work aims at the validation of the fABAS methodology on 5 min recordings from an independent database (fMCG, Bochum).We found high agreement of fABAS obtained from Jena normal fetuses (5 min subsets, n =  364) and Bochum recordings (n =  322, normal fetuses). fABAS of 48 recordings from fetuses with intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR, Bochum) was reduced in most of the cases, a result consistent with IUGR fetuses from Jena previously reported. fABAS calculated from 5 min snapshots only partly covers the accuracy when compared to fABAS from 30 min recordings. More precise diagnosis requires longer recordings.fABAS obtained from fMCG recordings is a strong candidate for standardized assessment of functional maturation age and developmental disturbances. Even 5 min recordings seem to be valuable for screening for maturation problems.
Biomagnetic Center, Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, 07743, Germany.
Dirk
D
Hoyer
Uwe
U
Schneider
Eva-Maria
EM
Kowalski
Alexander
A
Schmidt
Otto W
OW
Witte
Ekkehard
E
Schleußner
Wolfgang
W
Hatzmann
Dietrich Hw
DH
Grönemeyer
Peter
P
van Leeuwen
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D053798:Magnetocardiography; D013997:Time Factors