Obstet Gynecol Sci.  2019 Nov;62(6):469-473. 10.5468/ogs.2019.62.6.469.

Fetal autonomic malfunction as a marker of fetal distress in growth-restricted fetuses: three case reports

• Lakhno IV
• Alexander

• KMID: 2462126
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5468/ogs.2019.62.6.469

Abstract

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is characterized by fetal compromise and delayed neurological maturation. We report 3 cases of early FGR in the 26th week of gestation, based on hemodynamic Doppler monitoring, conventional cardiotocography, and non-invasive fetal electrocardiography (NI-FECG). Fetal heart rate variability (HRV), beat-to-beat variations, and fetal autonomic brain age scores (fABASs) were normal despite the absence of umbilical diastolic flow in the first case and the pregnancy continued to 30 weeks. NI-FECG helped achieve better fetal maturity. Fetal HRV and fABASs were low in the second and third cases. Fetal demise occurred soon in both cases. We conclude that NI-FECG could be a prospective method for the detection of fetal distress in early FGR.

Keyword

Fetal distress; Fetal growth restriction; Embryonic and fetal development

MeSH Terms

Brain
Cardiotocography
Electrocardiography
Embryonic and Fetal Development
Female
Fetal Death
Fetal Development
Fetal Distress*
Fetus*
Heart Rate, Fetal
Hemodynamics
Methods
Pregnancy
Prospective Studies