Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2011 Oct;205(4):350.e1-7.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2011.06.020. Epub 2011 Jun 15.

Lactate detection in the brain of growth-restricted fetuses with magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Irene Cetin  1 , Barbara Barberis, Valentina Brusati, Erika Brighina, Luca Mandia, Andrea Arighi, Tatjana Radaelli, Pietro Biondetti, Nereo Bresolin, Giorgio Pardi, Mario Rango
Affiliations
Free article

Lactate detection in the brain of growth-restricted fetuses with magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Irene Cetin et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2011 Oct.
Free article

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the feasibility of detecting fetal brain lactate, a marker of fetal metabolic acidemia, using a noninvasive technique, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H MRS), in intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) fetuses.

Study design: In vivo human fetal brain lactate detection was determined by (1)H MRS in 5 fetuses with IUGR. Oxygenation and acid-base balance data were obtained at birth.

Results: (1)H MRS analysis showed the presence of a lactate peak in the brain of the most severely affected IUGR fetus, with abnormal umbilical artery Doppler and fetal heart rate tracing. This finding was consistent with the low oxygen content and high lactic acid concentration observed in umbilical blood obtained at delivery.

Conclusion: (1)H MRS allows the noninvasive detection of cerebral lactate in IUGR fetuses. Lactate detected by (1)H MRS may represent a possible marker of in utero cerebral injury or underperfusion.

PubMed Disclaimer

Publication types