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Umbilical cord cortisol and arterial pH levels in spontaneous and induced labors
The free cortisol concentration in umbilical cord plasma and the pH of umbilical artery blood were determined in 108 full-term fetuses delivered vaginally. Eighty-six of the labors were spontaneous and 22 were induced with oxytocin. The cortisol values correlated significantly with the pH values (r = -.608, P less .001). The cortisol values averaged 0.73 +/- 0.48 mumole/liter in the spontaneous labor group and 0.65 +/0 0.42 mumole/liter in the induced labor group. No statistically significant differences (P greater than .05) in the cortisol and pH values emerged between the groups. The results indicate that the human fetus reacts readily to intrauterine hypoxia and acidosis with endogenic cortisol secretion in both spontaneous and induced labors.
The free cortisol concentration in umbilical cord plasma and the pH of umbilical artery blood were determined in 108 full-term fetuses delivered vaginally. Eighty-six of the labors were spontaneous and 22 were induced with oxytocin. The cortisol values correlated significantly with the pH values (r = -.608, P less .001). The cortisol values averaged 0.73 +/- 0.48 mumole/liter in the spontaneous labor group and 0.65 +/0 0.42 mumole/liter in the induced labor group. No statistically significant differences (P greater than .05) in the cortisol and pH values emerged between the groups. The results indicate that the human fetus reacts readily to intrauterine hypoxia and acidosis with endogenic cortisol secretion in both spontaneous and induced labors.