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Updated: Jul 21, 2026
Biochemical Measurement of Neonatal Hypoxia
Published on: August 24, 2011
Lipid peroxidation in cord blood: the effects of umbilical nuchal cord
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
Objective:
To examine the relation between cord entanglement around the fetal neck and umbilical arterial measures of free oxygen radical activity at birth.
Design:
Prospective observational study of the lipid peroxide levels in umbilical cord arterial blood.
Setting:
Delivery suite of Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong.
Population:
Women with a singleton pregnancy, at term (37 to 42 weeks of gestation), cephalic presentation, spontaneous or induced labour and an initially normal fetal heart rate tracing.
Methods:
A series of 230 singleton deliveries had determination of two lipoperoxides in umbilical arterial cord blood: malondialdehyde and organic hydroperoxide. Umbilical pH, PO2, PCO2 and base excess were also measured in both umbilical cord arterial and venous blood.
Main Outcome Measures:
Umbilical cord blood gases and arterial malondialdehyde and organic hydroperoxide levels.
Results:
Forty-nine cases of nuchal cord were observed: 14 tight and 35 loose. Tight nuchal cord was associated with a low 1-min Apgar score and increased lipid peroxide levels. Loose nuchal cord was associated with larger amniotic fluid volume and significantly decreased lipid peroxide levels.
Conclusions:
This study suggests that tight nuchal cord is associated with increased free oxygen radical activity in the fetus, but that loose nuchal cord carries no adverse effects.
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