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. 2024 Feb 27;52(4):399-405.
doi: 10.1515/jpm-2023-0413. Print 2024 May 27.

Correlation of fetal heart rate dynamics to inflammatory markers and brain-derived neurotrophic factor during pregnancy

Luis Mercado  1 , Shannon Rose  2 , Diana Escalona-Vargas  1   2 , Eric R Siegel  3 , Julie R Whittington  1 , Hubert Preissl  4 , Melissa Helmich  1 , Hari Eswaran  1
Affiliations

Correlation of fetal heart rate dynamics to inflammatory markers and brain-derived neurotrophic factor during pregnancy

Luis Mercado et al. J Perinat Med. .

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to show the relation between biomarkers in maternal and cord-blood samples and fetal heart rate variability (fHRV) metrics through a non-invasive fetal magnetocardiography (fMCG) technique.

Methods: Twenty-three women were enrolled for collection of maternal serum and fMCG tracings immediately prior to their scheduled cesarean delivery. The umbilical cord blood was collected for measurement of biomarker levels. The fMCG metrics were then correlated to the biomarker levels from the maternal serum and cord blood.

Results: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) had a moderate correlation with fetal parasympathetic activity (0.416) and fetal sympathovagal ratios (-0.309; -0.356). Interleukin (IL)-6 also had moderate-sized correlations but with an inverse relationship as compared to BDNF. These correlations were primarily in cord-blood samples and not in the maternal blood.

Conclusions: In this small sample-sized exploratory study, we observed a moderate correlation between fHRV and cord-blood BDNF and IL-6 immediately preceding scheduled cesarean delivery at term. These findings need to be validated in a larger population.

Keywords: brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF); fetal heart rate variability; fetal magnetocardiography; inflammatory markers (IL-6).

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None of the authors reported any financial interests or potential conflicts of interest other than disclosed grant funding. Dr. Whittington is an active duty member of the Armed Forces. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, or the US Government. She is a military service member. This work was prepared as part of her official duties. Title 17 U.S.C. 105 provides that “Copyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States government.” Title 17 U.S.C. 101 defines a United States government work as a work prepared by a military service member or employee of the United States government as part of that person’s official duties.

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