Delivery Routes and Anesthesia Affect Cord Blood NGF, BDNF, and Neonatal Outcomes.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Obstetrics
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• Nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are crucial neurotrophins for neuronal development and stress adaptation.
• Perinatal stress can impact neurodevelopment, making understanding factors influencing fetal well-being critical.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of delivery mode and anesthesia type on fetal cord blood NGF and BDNF levels.
• To explore the relationship between anesthesia and biochemical markers of fetal stress and adaptation.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 150 pregnant women undergoing vaginal delivery (VD) or cesarean section (CS).
• CS patients were stratified by anesthesia type: spinal or general.
• Fetal cord blood samples were analyzed for NGF, BDNF, and pH levels.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in cord blood NGF and BDNF levels was observed between VD and CS groups.
• Higher cord blood NGF and BDNF levels were found in the spinal anesthesia group compared to general anesthesia and VD groups.
• Cord blood pH was significantly higher in the spinal anesthesia group.

Conclusions:

• Spinal anesthesia is associated with elevated fetal cord blood NGF and BDNF levels.
• These findings suggest that regional anesthesia, specifically spinal anesthesia, may offer a protective effect against fetal stress during delivery.
• Regional anesthesia may promote improved biochemical adaptation in newborns.