Abstract

Aims: This study examined whether analysis of fetal behavioral states by monitoring fetal heart rate and movement using an actocardiogram (ACG), could provide prognostic information related to fetal central nervous system (CNS) lesions.

Methods: The ACG simultaneously records fetal heart rate (FHR) and fetal movement bursts composed of spikes of ultrasonic Doppler signals. Durations of FHR accelerations and fetal movement bursts were measured manually. Five actocardiographic indices were studied in 12 fetuses with CNS lesions and in 14 normal pregnancies of 28–38 weeks.

Results: Severity of the fetal CNS lesions was estimated from the acceleration/burst (A/B) duration ratio, which correlated with the rank of the sonographic fetal functional test in cases with CNS lesions. Severity of a fetal lesion may also be estimated by the regression equation of the A/B duration ratio and behavioral ranking.

Conclusion: The severity of fetal CNS lesions may be estimated by quantitative analysis of ACG usings the measurement of A/B duration ratio to provide a prognosis. An ACG may demonstrate a loss of CNS control in cases with severe brain damage.