Cord blood oxidative stress markers correlate with umbilical artery pulsatility in fetal growth restriction.

OBJECTIVE

To compare cord blood oxidative stress markers (OSM) between intrauterine small fetuses with high umbilical artery (UA) Doppler indices and normal indices.

METHODS

Forty women who had oligohydramnios and intrauterine growth-restricted fetuses with abnormal (n = 20, group I) or normal Doppler indices (n = 20, group II) were included. All patients underwent fetal Doppler ultrasound studies. Cord blood was collected at birth and six OSMs (ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), malondialdehyde (MDA)) levels, total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) were studied.

RESULTS

The mean cord blood IMA, MDA, TOS, and OSI values for group I were significantly increased when compared to the group II (p < 0.001 for IMA, MDA, TOS, and OSI). However the mean cord blood HGF and TAS values were statistically significantly decreased in group I, compared with group II (p < 0.001 for HGF, and TAS). A significant positive (for IMA, MDA,TOS levels, and OSI ratio) and negative (for HGF and TAS levels) correlations between UA pulsatility index (PI) and cord blood OSM were found.

CONCLUSION

The correlation between cord blood OSM and Doppler blood flow changes shown in this study may contribute to understanding the underlying oxidative stress-related mechanisms.