ABNORMAL FETAL AORTIC VELOCITY WAVE-FORM AND MINOR NEUROLOGICAL DYSFUNCTION AT 7 YEARS OF AGE

Measurements of fetal aortic blood flow velocity and fetal growth were performed in 178 pregnancies. In 87 cases, the estimated fetal weight was greater than or equal to 2 SD below the gestational age-related m ean of the population. Three fetuses died in utero. In 149 children (8 5%), a neurological examination was performed at 7 years of age with s pecial emphasis on minor neurological dysfunction. The frequency of th e more severe form of minor neurological dysfunction, MND-2, was highe r in the group with blood flow class (BFC) III (absent or reversed end -diastolic flow velocity (8/21) than in the group with BFC 0 (normal v elocity waveform) (14/105). Logistic regression analysis revealed that abnormal blood flow class, both independently and in combination with other factors, was the most significant predictor of MND-2. The assoc iation found between abnormal fetal aortic velocity waveforms an adver se outcome in terms of minor neurological dysfunction suggests that he modynamic evaluation of the fetus has a predictive value regarding pos tnatal neurological development.