The influence of betamethasone on fetal heart rate variability, obtained by non-invasive fetal electrocardiogram recordings
Publication year
2018Source
Early Human Development, 119, (2018), pp. 8-14ISSN
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor

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Organization
Radiation Oncology
Journal title
Early Human Development
Volume
vol. 119
Page start
p. 8
Page end
p. 14
Subject
Radboudumc 9: Rare cancers RIHS: Radboud Institute for Health SciencesAbstract
BACKGROUND: Betamethasone is widely used to enhance fetal lung maturation in case of threatened preterm labour. Fetal heart rate variability is one of the most important parameters to assess in fetal monitoring, since it is a reliable indicator for fetal distress. AIM: To describe the effect of betamethasone on fetal heart rate variability, by applying spectral analysis on non-invasive fetal electrocardiogram recordings. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SUBJECTS: Patients that require betamethasone, with a gestational age from 24weeks onwards. OUTCOME MEASURES: Fetal heart rate variability parameters on day 1, 2, and 3 after betamethasone administration are compared to a reference measurement. RESULTS: Following 68 inclusions, 12 patients remained with complete series of measurements and sufficient data quality. During day 1, an increase in absolute fetal heart rate variability values was seen. During day 2, a decrease in these values was seen. All trends indicate to return to pre-medication values on day 3. Normalised high- and low-frequency power show little changes during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: The changes in fetal heart rate variability following betamethasone administration show the same pattern when calculated by spectral analysis of the fetal electrocardiogram, as when calculated by cardiotocography. Since normalised spectral values show little changes, the influence of autonomic modulation seems minor.
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- Academic publications [227613]
- Faculty of Medical Sciences [86193]
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