RESUMO
Based on changes of erythrocyte deformability (ED) found in normal pregnancy the authors decided to study the group of pregnant women with intrauterine fetal hypoxy. We selected 47 pregnant patients between 32 and 37 weeks of pregnancy with intrauterine fetal hypoxy, which was diagnosed by Doppler umbilical cord artery blood flow measurement and/or by CTG signs of fetal hypoxy. The control group was composed of 26 healthy women in the third trimester of pregnancy with uncomplicated pregnancy and labor. ED was studied in the venous blood of pregnant women using method of colloid-osmotic hemolysis (Mirossay et al., Clin Haemorheol Microcircul, 1997). 21 newborns from the study group, treated for intrauterine fetal hypoxy, were born without symptoms of hypoxy (non verified hypoxy) and 26 newborns had a diagnosis of hypoxy, based on Apgar score, pH, base excess, bicarbonate and clinical symptoms (verified hypoxy). The entire group of 47 pregnant women with fetal hypoxy had significantly decreased ED. The changes of ED in the group with non verified hypoxy post partum were less pronounced comparing to the group with verified hypoxy. The pattern of these changes is similar to those observed one day prior to delivery in normal pregnancy. Pregnancy complicated by intrauterine fetal hypoxy is accompanied by statistically highly significant decrease of erythrocyte deformability. Interestingly similar changes can be observed in the late uncomplicated pregnancy prior to delivery.