Respiratory sinus arrhythmia in growth restricted fetuses with normal Doppler hemodynamic indices

The autonomic behavior of growth-restricted fetuses at different evolving hemodynamic stages has not been fully elicited.

To analyze the respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) of growth-restricted fetuses that despite this severe condition show normal Doppler hemodynamics.

10 growth-restricted fetuses (FGR group) with normal arterial pulsatility indices (umbilical, uterine, middle cerebral, ductus venosus and aortic isthmus), and 10 healthy fetuses (Control group), 32-37weeks of gestation.

B-mode ultrasound images for visualizing fetal breathing movements (FBM) or breathing akinesis (FBA), and the simultaneous RR-interval time series from maternal abdominal ECG recordings were obtained. The root-mean-square of successive differences of RR-intervals (RMSSD) was considered as a RSA-related parameter among the instantaneous amplitude of the high-frequency component (AMPHF) and its corresponding instantaneous frequency (IFHF), both computed by using empirical mode decomposition. Mean fetal heart-periods and RSA-related parameters were assessed during episodes of FBM and FBA in 30s length windows.

FGR and Control groups presented RSA-related fluctuations during FBM and FBA. Also, both groups showed significant higher (p<0.001) values for the mean heart-period, RMSSD and AMPHF during FBM. No-significant differences (p>0.05) were found for the IFHF regardless of breathing activity (FBM vs. FBA).

Growth-restricted fetuses without evident hemodynamic compromise exhibit a preserved autonomic cardiovascular regulation, characterized by higher values of RSA and mean heart-period in the presence of FBM. This physiological response reflects a compensatory strategy that may contribute to preserve blood flow redistribution to vital organs.