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WS15‐04The value of evaluation of adrenal circulation in predicting hypoxia of the fetus
Author(s) -
Breborowicz G. H.,
Dubiel M.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-0705.2000.00009-1-96.x
Subject(s) - medicine , fetus , adrenal gland , hypoxia (environmental) , hypoxemia , endocrinology , blood flow , fetal circulation , cardiology , physiology , pregnancy , placenta , biology , chemistry , genetics , organic chemistry , oxygen
From animal studies it is known that fetus during hypoxia redistributes it's blood flow preferentially to the brain, heart and adrenal glands. In animal studies, a three‐fold increase in adrenal blood flow has been demonstrated during hypoxia. The adrenals are relatively large organs in the fetus. Compared to fetal body weight, they are 20 times bigger than in the adult. The fetal adrenals respond to stress, such as hypoxemia by increased production of dihydroandrostendion (DHA), DHA sulfate and their metabolites. The adrenal gland is supplied by three arteries: the superior, coming from the inferior phrenic artery; the middle, from the abdominal aorta and inferior, arising from the renal artery. In the recent studies the Doppler signals were obtained from fetal middle adrenal artery. The normal adrenal PI shows decreasing values with the gestational age, which might suggest lower vascular resistance and high blood flow to the adrenals. From our observations the adrenal Doppler velocimetry is easier to record in fetuses from high‐risk pregnancies than in normals, probably due to the adrenal sparing effect. Recent results suggest that the adrenal artery velocimetry might be useful in fetal assessment and predicting outcome. The ‘adrenal‐sparing’ effect might be maintained at the same time the brain‐sparing signs disappear.