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
. 2017 May 24;45(4):493-501.
doi: 10.1515/jpm-2016-0065.

Longitudinal changes of cardiotocographic parameters throughout pregnancy: a prospective cohort study comparing small-for-gestational-age and normal fetuses from 24 to 40 weeks

Célia Amorim-Costa  1 , A Rita Gaio  2 , Diogo Ayres-de-Campos  2 , João Bernardes  2
Affiliations

Longitudinal changes of cardiotocographic parameters throughout pregnancy: a prospective cohort study comparing small-for-gestational-age and normal fetuses from 24 to 40 weeks

Célia Amorim-Costa et al. J Perinat Med. .

Abstract

Objective: To compare longitudinal trends of cardiotocographic (CTG) parameters between small-for-gestational-age (SGA) and normal fetuses, from 24 to 41 weeks of pregnancy.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was carried out in singleton pregnancies without fetal malformations. At least one CTG was performed in each of the following intervals: 24-26 weeks+6 days, 27-29 weeks+6 days, 30-32 weeks+6 days, 33-35 weeks+6 days, 36-38 weeks+6 days and ≥39 weeks. Tracings were analyzed using the Omniview-SisPorto® 3.6 system. Cases with a normal pregnancy outcome, including a birthweight ≥10th percentile for gestational age, were compared with two groups of SGA fetuses: with birthweight <10th percentile (SGA<p10) and <3rd percentile (SGA<p3; a subgroup of the latter). Generalized linear mixed-effects models were used for analysis.

Results: A total of 176 fetuses (31 SGA) and 1256 tracings (207 from SGA fetuses) were evaluated. All CTG parameters changed significantly throughout pregnancy in the three groups, with a decreasing baseline and probability of decelerations, and an increasing average long-term variability (LTV), average short-term variability (STV) and accelerations. Baseline showed a more pronounced decrease (steeper slope) in SGA fetuses, being higher in these cases at earlier gestational ages and lower later in pregnancy. Average LTV was significantly lower in SGA<p3 fetuses, but a parallel increase occurred in all groups. There was a considerable inter-fetal variability within each group.

Conclusion: A unique characterization of CTG trends throughout gestation in SGA fetuses was provided. A steeper descent of the baseline was reported for the first time. The findings raise the possibility of clinical application of computerized CTG analysis in screening and management of fetal growth restriction.

Keywords: Antepartum; cardiotocography; fetal; gestational age; growth restriction; heart rate; longitudinal; small-for-gestational-age.

PubMed Disclaimer

LinkOut - more resources