Abstract
To determine if acute alcohol ingestion during pregnancy could effect fetal myocardial function, studies were carried on 5 chronically catheterized fetal sheep during maternal alcohol infusion. Absolute ethyl alcohol (0.8 ml/kg) was administered to the mother over a 10 minute period via the jugular vein. These infusions were repeated every 30 minutes during 3 hours and peak maternal and fetal blood concentrations of 200 mg/100 ml of alcohol were reached. The fetal PO2 increased from 19.47 ± 1.71 to 22.85 ± 2.38 Torr (p < 0.05) and the PC)2 decreased from 43.15 ± 3.75 to 41.45 ± 4.07 Torr (p < 0.05), without affecting pH. The systolic time intervals of the fetal heart showed a rapid and prolonged modification. The pre-ejection period increased from 58 ± 8 to 66 ± 4 msec (p < 0.05) during the infusion and remained elevated until the end of the experiments (12 hours). This change was due to an increase in the isometric contraction period. The ratio of the pre-ejection period over the ejection time was also increased. A rise in fetal systolic and diastolic pressures was observed at around 2 hours after the start of the alcohol infusion, and lasted 4 hours. This study demonstrates that an episode of maternal alcohol intoxication causes a rapid depression of fetal myocardial contractility which is maintained several hours after cessation of alcohol ingestion. The depressive effect of maternal alcohol on the fetal myocardium could be a factor of risk for the fetus.
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Bard, H., Fouron, JC. & Lafond, J. 79 EFFECTS OF MATERNAL ALCOHOL INTOXICATION ON FETAL MYOCARDIAL FUNCTION. Pediatr Res 19, 124 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00109
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00109
