OBJECTIVE: Spectral analysis of heart-rate variability is used to monitor autonomic nervous system fluctuations. The low-frequency component is associated with sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation and the high-frequency component is associated with parasympathetic modulation. The objective was to study whether changes in low-frequency or high-frequency power of heart-rate variability occur in case of fetal distress. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Obstetric unit of a tertiary-care teaching hospital. POPULATION: Twenty healthy human fetuses during labour at term of which ten had an umbilical artery pH < 7.05 (cases), and ten had an arterial pH > 7.20 (controls) after birth. METHODS: Spectral information about fetal beat-to-beat heart rate, calculated from direct fetal electrocardiogram registrations, was obtained by using a short-time Fourier transform. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Absolute power and normalised power in the low-frequency and high-frequency bands. RESULTS: No differences were found between fetuses with and without acidaemia in absolute low or high frequency power (P = 0.2 and P = 0.3, respectively). During the last 30 minutes of labour, acidaemic fetuses had significantly increased normalised low-frequency power (P = 0.01) and decreased normalised high-frequency power (P = 0.03) compared with non-acidaemic fetuses. These differences were not observed from 3 to 2 hours before birth (P = 0.7 and P = 0.9, respectively). CONCLUSION: The autonomic nervous system of human fetuses at term responds adequately to severe stress during labour. Normalised low and high frequency power of heart-rate variability might be able to discriminate between normal and abnormal fetal condition.
OBJECTIVE: Spectral analysis of heart-rate variability is used to monitor autonomic nervous system fluctuations. The low-frequency component is associated with sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation and the high-frequency component is associated with parasympathetic modulation. The objective was to study whether changes in low-frequency or high-frequency power of heart-rate variability occur in case of fetal distress. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Obstetric unit of a tertiary-care teaching hospital. POPULATION: Twenty healthy human fetuses during labour at term of which ten had an umbilical artery pH < 7.05 (cases), and ten had an arterial pH > 7.20 (controls) after birth. METHODS: Spectral information about fetal beat-to-beat heart rate, calculated from direct fetal electrocardiogram registrations, was obtained by using a short-time Fourier transform. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Absolute power and normalised power in the low-frequency and high-frequency bands. RESULTS: No differences were found between fetuses with and without acidaemia in absolute low or high frequency power (P = 0.2 and P = 0.3, respectively). During the last 30 minutes of labour, acidaemic fetuses had significantly increased normalised low-frequency power (P = 0.01) and decreased normalised high-frequency power (P = 0.03) compared with non-acidaemic fetuses. These differences were not observed from 3 to 2 hours before birth (P = 0.7 and P = 0.9, respectively). CONCLUSION: The autonomic nervous system of human fetuses at term responds adequately to severe stress during labour. Normalised low and high frequency power of heart-rate variability might be able to discriminate between normal and abnormal fetal condition.
Authors: Christopher A Lear; Robert Galinsky; Guido Wassink; Clinton J Mitchell; Joanne O Davidson; Jennifer A Westgate; Laura Bennet; Alistair J Gunn Journal: J Physiol Date: 2015-05-22 Impact factor: 5.182
Authors: Alex Zwanenburg; Ben Jm Hermans; Peter Andriessen; Hendrik J Niemarkt; Reint K Jellema; Daan Rmg Ophelders; Rik Vullings; Tim Gam Wolfs; Boris W Kramer; Tammo Delhaas Journal: Pediatr Res Date: 2016-02-11 Impact factor: 3.756
Authors: Madalena D Costa; William T Schnettler; Célia Amorim-Costa; João Bernardes; Antónia Costa; Ary L Goldberger; Diogo Ayres-de-Campos Journal: Early Hum Dev Date: 2013-11-28 Impact factor: 2.079
Authors: C Garabedian; Y Clermont-Hama; D Sharma; E Aubry; L Butruille; P Deruelle; L Storme; J De Jonckheere; V Houfflin-Debarge Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-01-10 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: C Garabedian; C Champion; E Servan-Schreiber; L Butruille; E Aubry; D Sharma; R Logier; P Deruelle; L Storme; V Houfflin-Debarge; J De Jonckheere Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-07-10 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Alexandra D J Hulsenboom; Kim M J Verdurmen; Rik Vullings; M Beatrijs van der Hout-van der Jagt; Anneke Kwee; Judith O E H van Laar; S Guid Oei Journal: PLoS One Date: 2019-03-26 Impact factor: 3.240