Identification of fetal cerebral lactate using magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy has the potential to evaluate the cerebral metabolic status in the at-risk fetus. Cerebral lactate, a marker for hypoxia, has been identified by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the brain of fetal animals subject to hypoxic conditions, but not in the human fetus. We report a case of a fetus with gastroschesis with elevated cerebral lactate on proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.