OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is a difference in acid-base status at the time of cordocentesis between fetuses with symmetric and asymmetric intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). STUDY DESIGN: Non-anomalous singleton fetuses with IUGR who underwent fetal blood sampling for rapid karyotype analysis from 1992-1995 were retrospectively identified. Cases with gestational age <24 weeks, abnormal karyotype, or evidence of congenital infection were excluded. Fetuses were divided into two groups based on Head Circumference/ Abdominal Circumference Ratio (HC/AC). The asymmetric-IUGR group had HC/AC > or = 95% tile for GA, and the symmetric-IUGR group had HC/AC <95% tile. GA adjusted values of umbilical venous pH, pCO2, pO2, HCO3, hemoglobin and reticulocyte count were calculated by subtracting the mean values for GA from the observed and compared between groups. RESULTS: Both symmetric-IUGR (n = 7) and asymmetric-IUGR (n = 9) had umbilical venous pH and pO2, levels lower than GA normative values. However, there were no differences between groups for any of the parameters studied. CONCLUSIONS: Fetuses with symmetric and asymmetric IUGR due to UPI display a similar degree of acid-base impairment.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is a difference in acid-base status at the time of cordocentesis between fetuses with symmetric and asymmetric intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). STUDY DESIGN: Non-anomalous singleton fetuses with IUGR who underwent fetal blood sampling for rapid karyotype analysis from 1992-1995 were retrospectively identified. Cases with gestational age <24 weeks, abnormal karyotype, or evidence of congenital infection were excluded. Fetuses were divided into two groups based on Head Circumference/ Abdominal Circumference Ratio (HC/AC). The asymmetric-IUGR group had HC/AC > or = 95% tile for GA, and the symmetric-IUGR group had HC/AC <95% tile. GA adjusted values of umbilical venous pH, pCO2, pO2, HCO3, hemoglobin and reticulocyte count were calculated by subtracting the mean values for GA from the observed and compared between groups. RESULTS: Both symmetric-IUGR (n = 7) and asymmetric-IUGR (n = 9) had umbilical venous pH and pO2, levels lower than GA normative values. However, there were no differences between groups for any of the parameters studied. CONCLUSIONS: Fetuses with symmetric and asymmetric IUGR due to UPI display a similar degree of acid-base impairment.