Spondylothoracic dysplasia. Clinical and sonographic diagnosis.

Spondylothoracic dysplasia, also known as short-trunk dwarfism or Jarcho-Levin syndrome, is a fatal autosomal recessive disorder characterized by vertebral and spinal defects with a short thorax. Until recently, in utero diagnosis could only be made radiographically. Sonographic criteria for antenatal diagnosis are discussed in conjunction with a review of the literature.

Differences in twins: the importance of birth order.

Despite the clinical impression that firstborn twins do better than second-born twins, recent reports have shown no difference in perinatal mortality between them. In order to evaluate differences in twins, more sensitive means than perinatal deaths are necessary. This study examines differences between 80 firstborn and second-born twin pairs with respect to Apgar score, umbilical venous and arterial blood gas, and acid-base data. The umbilical venous and arterial blood PO2, PCO2, base deficit, pH, and lactic acid concentration were measured in paired samples and compared with the paired t test and chi 2 when applicable. Statistically significant differences favoring twin A, the firstborn, were found in 1-minute Apgar score, umbilical venous pH, PO2, and PCO2, and umbilical arterial PO2. The other factors in umbilical venous and arterial blood did not show statistically significant differences. When these parameters were examined with respect to route of delivery, monochorionic and dichorionic twins, interval between twins, and vertex twins only, with the possible effects of malpresentation eliminated, the results persistently favored the firstborn twin. Thus it is unequivocally demonstrated that there are substantial differences at birth favoring the first twin, despite similar perinatal mortality for both. The data suggest that the second-born twin has potentially greater susceptibility to hypoxia and trauma.

Human maternal-fetal lactate relationships.

This study attempts to determine the major source of lactate in the normal and in the depressed human fetus, in order to assess the applicability of fetal blood lactate measurement for the evaluation of fetal stress during labor. We obtained umbilical arterial and venous blood samples at delivery in 132 liveborn infants, together with simultaneous maternal radial arterial samples. All samples were analyzed immediately for pH, blood gases, and lactate. In vigorous newborns (1-minute Apgar score greater than or equal to 7), umbilical arterial and venous lactate levels were lowest with elective cesarean section done before the onset of labor, higher with cesarean section performed during labor, and highest at the time of vaginal delivery (p less than 0.001, Tab. I). Fetal lactate levels were also significantly higher than maternal levels in vigorous newborns (p less than 0.01), the lactate difference between umbilical artery and maternal artery being lowest with elective cesarean section, higher with cesarean section performed during labor, and highest with vaginal delivery (p less than 0.02, Tab. II). Depressed newborns (1-minute Apgar score less than 7) had higher umbilical lactates and higher fetal-maternal lactate differences than vigorous newborns (p less than 0.01, Tab. III). Our results indicate that the blood lactate levels in both mother and fetus increase with labor and reach their highest values at the time of vaginal delivery. The lactate levels are highest in the umbilical artery, lower in the umbilical vein, and lowest in the maternal artery before the onset of labor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)