CK-BB AS INDICATOR OF PRENATAL BRAIN-CELL INJURY IN FETUSES WITH ABSENT OR REVERSE END-DIASTOLIC FLOW VELOCITIES OF THE UMBILICAL ARTERIES

The purpose of this study is to determine the levels of brain type iso enzyme of creatine kinase (CK-BB) as a possible indicator of a pre-exi sting intrauterine brain-cell damage in cord blood sera of fetuses wit h preceding absent or reverse end-diastolic flow velocities of the umb ilical arteries (AREDFV). CK-BB isoenzyme activities were determined i n umbilical cord sera of 13 newborn infants with preceding AREDFV and in 14 fetuses with low end-diastolic flow velocities (LEDFV) of the um bilical arteries. 50 newborn infants with elective cesarean section an d normal umbilical artery blood flow velocity waveforms were used as c ontrols. Two-tailed Student's t-test and Fischer's exact test were use d for statistical evaluation of the results. CK-BB isoenzyme activity did not depend on gestational age. Fetuses with AREDFV showed a signif icant increase in CK-BB values, whereas fetuses with LEDFV had CK-BB a ctivities within the normal range of the controls. The elevated CK-BB values of the AREDFV group were not correlated with fetal acidosis at birth. Brain-cell injury with leakage of CK-BB isoenzyme might be pres ent in fetuses with AREDFV even before (preterm) delivery.