[Can neonatal anemia be predicted by analysis of the fetal cardiac rhythm?]

It is difficult to diagnose the severe pathological condition of fetal anaemia before birth. 30 cases of neonatal anaemia were compared with a control group who had normal haemoglobins after attempts at screening using fetal cardiotocography (CTG). Half all anaemic fetuses had a normal CTG trace and in 11 others (37%) though the abnormalities were serious they were not specific. Four fetuses (13%) had a sinusoidal cardiac rhythm which does seem to be the only specific sign of anaemia of any value as a predictive sign. Unfortunately this sign is not a sensitive one. It therefore appears that CTG is only of very limited value in screening for neonatal anaemia.