Abstract
Objectives
To evaluate the significance of natriuretic peptide (NP) levels in fetal arrhythmia.
Study design
Cardiovascular profile (CVP) scores and umbilical vein (UV) NP levels at birth were compared by different fetal arrhythmia statuses.
Results
Fetal tachyarrhythmia (n = 22), bradyarrhythmia (n = 12), extrasystole (n = 12) and controls (n = 127) were enrolled in this study. Fetal antiarrhythmic therapy was performed in fetuses with tachyarrhythmia (n = 18) and bradyarrhythmia (n = 5). Fetal arrhythmias were divided into three groups: group A (arrhythmia controlled at birth, n = 17), Group B (arrhythmia uncontrolled at birth, n = 9) and Group C (fetal therapy not indicated, n = 20). Group B had significantly lower CVP scores and higher NP levels than the other two groups and controls (p < .01). Groups A and C had significantly lower CVP scores than controls, but NP levels in Groups A and C showed no differences compared with controls.
Conclusions
UV NP concentrations reflect the severity of fetal arrhythmia and responses to fetal therapy.
Acknowledgments
We thank the doctors in the Department of Perinatology and Gynecology for their assistance in collecting umbilical cord blood samples.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.