Abstract
Mean blood flow velocity in the fetal abdominal aorta has been assumed to reflect the degree of placental insufficiency. However, only a poor correlation was found between mean blood flow velocity in fetal aorta (mAoBFV) and the degree of fetal growth retardation. We studied the relation of mAoBFV to umbilical hematocrit (Hct) and to placental weights adjusted to gestational age (% of normal mean). mAoBFV was determined by pulsed doppler ultrasound in 23 fetuses with weights below the 10th percentile for gestational age (28-41 wks gestation). Umbilical artery Hct was 0.53 (0.40-0.70 1/1) (mean, range), mAoBFV 27.2 (11-39 cm/s). A highly significant (p 0.001) linear correlation existed for mAoBFV vs. Hct (y= -64.8x + 61.3, r=0.67) but not for mAoBFV vs. placental weight (r=0.33). As an index of hemoglobin (Hb)-flux we calculated the product of mAoBFV x Hb-concentration. This index of Hb-flux did not change with Hct (r=-0.23).
Conclusion: Our data suggest that, in addition to placental vascular changes, an increased hematocrit may contribute to low mAoBFV.
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Wisser, J., Schmid, A. & Versmold, H. AORTIC BLOOD FLOW VELOCITY IN THE SGA FETUS: RELATION TO HEMATOCRIT. Pediatr Res 22, 219 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198708000-00038
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198708000-00038