[Biochemical effects of maternal intravenous and intra-amniotic infusion of amino-acids on fetal blood]

Abstract

Before elective cesarean section, 58 normal term's pregnant women were randomly divided into three groups: intravenous (25 women), intra-amniotic (8 women) and control (25 women) groups. The first two groups received maternal intravenous and intra-amniotic infusion of amino acids respectively. The results showed that maternal intravenous administration of amino-acids led to increased levels of amino acids in maternal venous blood and fetal umbilical cord blood plasma (P < 0.05). There was no increase in fetal uptake of amino acids (P > 0.05). The levels of amino acids in fetal umbilical cord blood plasma of the intra-amniotic group were higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05) and intravenous group (P < 0.05). In the intra-amniotic group, the fetal uptake of amino acids increased (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in fetal umbilical arterious pH, PO2 and PCO2 among the three groups (P > 0.2). Intra-amniotic infusion of 250ml amino-acids did not change the pressure of amniotic cavity (P > 0.2). The authors suggested that intra-amniotic infusion of amino acids, as a paraplacental nutritional route, should be more effective in the treatment for cases of intrauterine fetal growth retardation particularly for those accompanied by severe placental lesions.