A novel trophotropic mechanism of fetal wellbeing

Abstract

The spectral characteristics of maternal and fetal heart rate variability and umbilical vein hemodynamics were investigated in 63 pregnant women with preeclampsia that was associated with the suppression of the vagal tone. Sympatovagal value above 2.0 was a marker of pregnancy complication. It was determined that fetal compromise in preeclamptic patients was accompanied with decreased total spectrum power and fractal components of heart rate variability and the relative predominance of central sympathetic control. The resulting state influenced negatively on fetal myocardial metabolic response and was characterized with T/QRS ratio above 1.5. The autonomic nervous regulation reduction of the fetus demonstrated the loss of independence from the maternal hemodynamics that had synchronized the maternal and fetal heart rate by increased vagal tone power. The fetal distress development marked an increased regulatory role of maternal origin slow-wave processes and depletion of the proper myogenic umbilical cord arrangements which reinforced the penetrating of umbilical vein pulsative waves.