Thesis (MMed)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction Pregnancies in women with a previous unexplained stillbirth may be jeopardized by increased antenatal surveillance and higher rates of induction of labour and caesarean delivery without clear evidence of benefit. Despite the fact that there have been no studies that adequately tested fetal benefit in routine induction of labour for a previous stillbirth, a policy of routine induction of labour at 38 weeks, with all the associated maternal, fetal and health-care associated costs, was in practice at Tygerberg Hospital for the past 30 years. This study aimed to investigate the safety of continuation of these pregnancies until term (≥39 weeks). Aims and Objectives To assess the clinical outcome and impact on the health service in a pregnancy with a previous unexplained intra-uterine demise (IUD) by routine induction of labour at term instead of at 38 weeks. Methodology This was a prospective observational study on the safety of a new hospital protocol which was introduced in 2012. The protocol extended the gestation for induction after a previous IUD from 38 weeks to term. The study population included all pregnant patients with a current singleton pregnancy, and a previous unexplained or unexplored (no data available) singleton fetal demise ≥24 weeks/500grams. All patients with a previous stillbirth in the metropolitan drainage area of Tygerberg Hospital are referred to Tygerberg for further care; and all referrals during 2012 were recruited for the study. Patients with known or recurrent risks for intra-uterine death were managed according to the relevant clinical condition and were excluded from the study. Results During the audit period, 306 patients with a previous intra-uterine fetal death were referred for further management. Of these, 161 had a clear indication for either earlier intervention or no intervention and were excluded from the protocol. Of the remaining 145 patients, 9 met exclusion criteria and there were 2 patients who defaulted. Forty-two of the study patients (with no known previous medical problems) developed complications during their antenatal course that necessitated a change in clinical management and earlier (<39 weeks) delivery. Of the remaining 92 patients in the audit, 47 (51%) went into spontaneous labour before their induction date. There were no intra-uterine deaths prior to delivery. Conclusions Careful follow up at a high risk clinic identifies new or concealed maternal or fetal complications in 29% of patients with a previous IUD and no obvious maternal or fetal disease in the index pregnancy. When all risks are excluded and the pregnancy allowed to progress to 39 weeks before an induction is offered, 51% will go into spontaneous labour. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Inleiding Swangerskappe in vroue met vorige onverklaarbare stilgeboorte mag in gevaar gestel word deur meer intense voorgeboorte sorg en ‘n groter hoeveelheid induksies van kraam en keisersnitte sonder duidelike bewyse dat dit tot voordeel strek. Ten spyte van die feit dat daar geen studies is wat bewys het dat roetine induksie van kraam vir ‘n vorige stilgeboorte op 38 weke tot voordeel van die baba was nie, was ‘n beleid van roetine induksie van kraam op 38 weke, met al die geassosieërde moederlike en fetale risikos daaraan verbonde; asook die hoë gesondheidskostes, roetine praktyk in Tygerberg Hospitaal vir die afgelope 30 jaar. Hierdie studie het ten doel gehad om die veiligheid van voortsetting van hierdie swangerskappe tot voltyd (≥39 weke) te ondersoek. Doelwitte Om die kliniese uitkoms; asook die impak op gesondheidsdienste te evalueer in ‘n swanger vrou met n vorige onverklaarbare intra-uteriene sterfte; deur roetine induksie van kraam aan te bied op voltyd in plaas van 38 weke. Metodologie Hierdie was n prospektiewe kohort studie om die veiligheid van ‘n nuwe hospitaal protokol wat in 2012 geïmplimenteer is, te bepaal. Hierdie protokol het die gestasie tydperk van induksie van kraam van alle swanger pasiënte na ‘n vorige onverklaarbare stilgeboorte van 38 weke na voltyd verleng. Die studiepopulasie het alle swanger pasiënte met ‘n huidige enkelswangerskap en ‘n vorige onverklaarbare of onbekende (geen data beskikbaar) enkelvoudige fetale sterfte ≥24 weke/500gram, ingesluit. Alle pasiënte in die metropolitaanse dreineringsarea van Tygerberg Hospitaal met ‘n vorige stilgeboorte word na Tygerberg verwys vir verdere hantering, en alle verwysings gedurende 2012 was gewerf vir die studie. Pasiënte met bekende of herhalende risikofaktore vir ‘n intra-uteriene sterfte was hanteer volgens die relevante kliniese inligting en was uitgesluit by die studie. Resultate Drie-honderd-en-ses pasiënte met ‘n vorige intra-uteriene fetale sterfte was gedurende die oudit periode verwys vir verdere hantering. In 161 pasiënte was daar ‘n duidelike indikasie vir of vroeër intervensie of geen intervensie nie; en hulle was uitgesluit van die protokol. Van die oorblywende 145 pasiënte is 9 pasiënte uitgesluit as gevolg van die uitsluitingskriteria en daar was 2 pasiënte wat versuim het om op te volg. Twee-en-veertig pasiënte (met geen bekende vorige mediese probleme nie) het komplikasies gedurende hulle voorgeboorte verloop ontwikkel wat gelei het tot verandering in kliniese hantering en vroeëre verlossing (≤39 weke) genoodsaak het. Van die oorblywende 92 pasiënte in die oudit, het 47 (51%) in spontane kraam gegaan voor hulle induksiedatum. Daar was geen intra-uteriene sterftes voor verlossing nie. Gevolgtrekkings Noukeurige opvolg by ‘n hoërisiko kliniek identifiseer nuwe of versteekte moederlike en fetale komplikasies in 29% van pasiënte met ‘n vorige intra-uteriene sterfte sonder enige duidelike moederlike of fetale siekte in die indeks swangerskap. Wanneer alle risikos uitgesluit word en die swangerskap toegelaat word om voort te gaan tot 39 weke voor ‘n induksie aangebied word, sal 51% van pasiënte spontaan in kraam gaan.

Many women experience miscarriage every year. Every fourth woman who has given birth reports that she has previous experience of miscarriage. In a study of all women in the Swedish Medical Birth Register 1983-2003, we found that the number of cases of self reported miscarriage had increased in Sweden during this 21 year period. This increase can be explained by the introduction of sensitive pregnancy tests around 1990, as well as an increase in the mean age of the mothers, by approximately 3 years, during the observation period. The risk of miscarriage is 13% with the first child. With subsequent pregnancies, the risk of miscarriage is 8%, 6% and 4% with the second, third and fourth child, respectively. Thirteen of these women who had suffered a recent miscarriage were interviewed four months later, and their feelings of guilt and emptiness were explored. Their experience was that they wanted their questions to be answered, and that they wanted others to treat them as the mothers to be that they felt themselves to be. They also experienced the need for time to grieve their loss. Measurement of grief by means of the Perinatal Grief Scale (PGS) is used in research but has also been proposed for clinical use. We have translated this psychological instrument to Swedish, back-translated and tested it in a small pilot study. In a randomized controlled study, women with early miscarriage were allocated, either to a structured visit (study group) or a regular visit (control group) to a midwife. The structured visit was conducted according to the Swanson caring theory. We could conclude that the structured visit had no significant effect on grief compared to the regular visit, as measured using the PGS. However, women with the sub-diagnosis missed abortion have significantly more grief four months after early miscarriage, regardless of visit type. We also performed a content analysis of the tape-recorded structured follow-up visit. The code-key used was Bonanno and Kaltman’s general grief categorization. Women’s expression of grief after miscarriage was found to be very similar to the grief experienced following the death of a relative. Furthermore, the grief was found to be independent of number of children, women’s age, or earlier experience of miscarriage. Conclusions: Every fourth woman who gives birth reports that she has also experienced early miscarriage. The experience of these women is that they have suffered a substantial loss and their reaction is grief similar to that experienced following the death of a relative.

Objetivos: Determinar las complicaciones y mortalidad neonatal de los embarazos culminados en cesárea. Materiales y métodos: Se hizo una revisión de las historias clínicas de los recién nacidos y las pacientes a quienes se les practicó cesárea durante el mes de diciembre del 2013 en el Instituto Nacional Materno Perinatal; se incluyeron todos los productos cuya edad gestacional osciló entre las 37 a las 41 semanas. Se excluyeron productos que presentaron malformaciones congénitas mayores. Tipo de estudio realizado: retrospectivo, observacional, descriptivo y transversal. Universo: Todas las pacientes cesareadas y sus recién nacidos durante el mes de diciembre del año 2013. Se seleccionaron un total de 472 casos. Resultados: el porcentaje de complicaciones neonatales encontradas fue de 18.4% siendo las más frecuentes sepsis neonatal (8.5 %) y la Taquipnea Transitoria del RN (3.8%). Ni la edad materna, ni el sexo del recién nacido, ni el peso del recién nacido influyeron en el hallazgo de complicaciones neonatales en los embarazos culminados por cesárea en el INMP diciembre 2013. La edad gestacional influye en la frecuencia de complicaciones neonatales en los embarazos culminados por cesárea. Solo dos casos (0.4%) ingresaron a UCIN.

This thesis aimed to study the actual and perceived quality of midwifery practices during childbirth at peripheral and central health care levels in two low-income countries, Angola (I-III) and Mozambique (IV-V). Theoretical models interpreting women's and midwives' views have been developed. Objectives: Study I evaluates midwives' use of an adapted model of the World Health Organization's partograph, a tool used to monitor the progress of labour. Study II describes midwives experiences of working without immediate medical assistance. Study III explores women's perceptions of care-seeking behaviour during childbirth. Study IV observes perinatal midwifery care routines and examine partograph documentation. Study V explores and develops a theoretical understanding of factors perceived to obstruct or facilitate midwives ability to provide quality of perinatal care. Methods: Study I: A one-group pre-and post-test interventional evaluation of 100 partographs from one peripheral delivery unit. Study II: Semi structured interviews with eleven midwives, analysed in a qualitative process comprising six steps. Study III. Ten focus group discussions with pregnant and non-pregnant women, analysed using the grounded theory technique. Study IV. Pre-and post intervention observation of midwifery care of 702 vs. 616 women during delivery and examination of the partographs. Study V: In-depth interviews with 16 midwives, analysed using grounded theory technique. Educational interventions were designed and applied in study II and IV. Results: Study I. Significant improvement of documenting was found in seven of the ten variables and more partographs were correctly documented in sample II compared to sample I. Missed transfers increased, however, in sample II. Study II: The midwives experiences were sorted under four main areas: (1) Society/culture (2) Significant Others (3) Personal Self (4) Professional Self. Confidence was felt in the role as autonomous midwives but dependency on various factors such as the partograph, a functional referral system, peer support, community trust and continuous supervision was emphasised. Socio-economic hardships were identified as major stress factors for themselves and the women. Study III: Women seemed compelled to "mould" their care seeking behaviour and four patterns, two 'avoiding' and two 'approaching' institutional care were identified. The salient features of each pattern were found to be "personal courage", [B1]"disempowerment", "discarding traditional practices" and "awareness and emancipation". Study IV. No improvements were found in quality of care following the intervention. Common problems proved to be hypothermia and rare initiation of the graphic part of the partograph, which monitors progress of labour. Study V. A process labelled "changing perinatal care management" emerged, which comprised four dimensions addressing aspects related to i) existing environment ii) midwives' interaction with women in labour, iii) midwifery profession and iv) caring technology in order to improve quality of care. Communication and collaboration were identified as change agents. Conclusions: The findings in this thesis indicate that midwives' ability to provide quality of maternal and perinatal care in lowincome and post-war affected countries is restricted by organizational, structural, educational as well as attitudinal aspects. Women in need of assistance during childbirth are negatively affected as a consequence of midwives reaction to the various constraints, which at times (Luanda) seems to oblige adverse care seeking behaviour. Midwives recognises the need for change, but change is found to be a slow and complex process, which requires engagement by all levels of the care chain. A model suggesting how to achieve quality of maternal and perinatal care in Safe Motherhood context is presented.

<p>The field of "perinatal programming" has increasingly implicated an adverse early-life environment in the etiology of many chronic health problems and mental disorders. The following dissertation research is based on the hypothesis that the programming of brain and behavior by an altered early-life environment is propagated by inflammatory mechanisms in the placenta and developing brain. Offspring outcomes of two different maternal environmental exposures--air pollution and a "Western diet" (both highly relevant for the modern world)--were assessed in a mouse model in order to identify mechanisms common to developmental programming more generally.</p><p>The first set of experiments characterized the long-term behavioral and metabolic consequences of prenatal air pollution exposure in adult offspring. The male offspring of diesel exhaust particle (DEP)-exposed dams were predisposed to obesity, insulin resistance, and increased anxiety following placement on a high-fat diet (HFD) in adulthood. Furthermore, DEP/HFD male offspring exhibited evidence of macrophage priming, both in microglia and peripheral macrophages. The next experiment examined whether prenatal air pollution exposure could also synergize with a simultaneous "second hit" (i.e., maternal stress) during gestation. The offspring of mothers exposed to both air pollution and stress during gestation were more anxious as adults, but only the male offspring of this group also exhibited impaired cognition, in conjunction with neuroinflammatory changes. A further experiment revealed that prenatal air pollution exposure altered microglial maturation in a TLR4- and sex-dependent manner, consistent with the previous results. However, we found limited evidence of a placental immune response to DEP, potentially due to analysis too late in gestation. </p><p>The second set of experiments characterized the enduring behavioral and metabolic consequences of maternal consumption of a "Western diet" (HFD in combination with BCAA supplementation) prior to and during gestation and lactation. The adult offspring of HFD-fed dams were more anxious in adulthood, despite being placed on a low-fat diet at weaning. Male HFD offspring were also hyperactive, whereas female HFD offspring exhibited more severe metabolic disturbances. Furthermore, there was evidence of microglial priming and peripheral macrophage priming in male HFD offspring, similar to the prenatal air pollution model. The next experiment also found evidence of altered microglial development due to maternal HFD, in conjunction with widespread, sex-specific immune gene regulation in the placenta in response to maternal diet. Moreover, maternal HFD decreased placental serotonin production, and also programmed long-term alterations in serotonergic function in the prefrontal cortex of adult HFD offspring. Taken together, these experiments define sexually dimorphic innate immune mechanisms in the placenta and developing brain that may underlie the long-term metabolic and behavioral consequences of maternal environmental exposures.</p> / Dissertation

During the latest decade Somali-born women with experiences of long-lasting war followed by migration have increasingly encountered Swedish maternity care, where antenatal care midwives are assigned to ask questions about exposure to violence. The overall aim in this thesis was to gain deeper understanding of Somali-born women’s wellbeing and needs during the parallel transitions of migration to Sweden and childbearing, focusing on maternity healthcare encounters and violence. Data were obtained from medical records (paper I), qualitative interviews with Somali-born women (II, III) and Swedish antenatal care midwives (IV). Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used. Compared to pregnancies of Swedish-born women, Somali-born women’s pregnancies demonstrated later booking and less visits to antenatal care, more maternal morbidity but less psychiatric treatment, less medical pain relief during delivery and more emergency caesarean sections and small-for-gestational-age infants (I). Political violence with broken societal structures before migration contributed to up-rootedness, limited healthcare and absent state-based support to women subjected to violence, which reinforced reliance on social networks, own endurance and faith in Somalia (II). After migration, sources of wellbeing were a pragmatic “moving-on” approach including faith and motherhood, combined with social coherence. Lawful rights for women were appreciated but could concurrently risk creating power tensions in partner relationships. Generally, the Somali-born women associated the midwife more with providing medical care than with overall wellbeing or concerns about violence, but new societal resources were parallel incorporated with known resources (III). Midwives strived for woman-centered approaches beyond ethnicity and culture in care encounters, with language, social gaps and divergent views on violence as potential barriers in violence inquiry. Somali-born women’s strength and contentment were highlighted, and ongoing violence seldom encountered according to the midwives experiences (IV). Pragmatism including “moving on” combined with support from family and social networks, indicate capability to cope with violence and migration-related stress. However, this must be balanced against potential unspoken needs at individual level in care encounters.With trustful relationships, optimized interaction and networking with local Somali communities and across professions, the antenatal midwife can have a “bridging-function” in balancing between dual societies and contribute to healthy transitions in the new society.

1 Abstract Title: Consequences of experimentally induced perinatal cerebral ischemic lesion. Aim: This thesis aims to present the issues and analyze current knowledge in the field of perinatal brain damage, particularly perinatal cerebral ischemic lesions as the most common brain infarction in children. Basic characteristics of the disease, syndromology, pathophysiological mechanisms and risk factors are emphasized. Following the theoretical background the thesis analyzes current trends as well as the limitations of the diagnostics and therapy. The aim is to highlight the need for early diagnosis and emphasize the potential of preventive treatment strategies. The practical part follows the theoretical background and expands the topic on the analysis of motor and behavioral consequences of experimentally induced perinatal ischemic stroke. Method: Cerebral focal ischemia was induced experimentally by photothrombotic method to seven days old rats. Rose Bengal intravenously followed by continual illumination of the senzorimotor cortex using a green laser beam for 10 minutes was induced platelet aggregation and subsequent thrombosis. Eight animals at age of two months were evaluated for 7 days via observational cages PhenoTyper. Results: The theoretical part collected and processed theoretical data on the...

The aim of this study is to explore the psychosocial aspects of care provided in maternity hospitals. The study is divided into three parts: i) the psychosocial aspects of care for parturients, ii) the psychosocial aspects of care for the newborn, and iii) the psychosomatic issues in obstetrics. Each part includes a review of the relevant literature and a presentation of the specific research carried out for the purpose of this thesis. The first part discusses the psychosocial competences of healthcare providers (social support, communication, providing of information, etc.), while subsequent research focuses on the psychosocial factors that influence parturients' satisfaction with perinatal care. The second part is devoted to psychological importance of birth experience for the newborn and early mother-child contact, psychosocial needs of the health-risk newborn and initiation of breastfeeding, with the research section containing the inquiry into the factors that may influence the start of breastfeeding. The last part of this study concentrates on the effects of psychological variables on the perception of pain and the course of labour. The review of the relevant literature is followed by presenting the research results that show the impact of psychosocial factors of perinatal care on selected...

Contexte : Environ 257 millions de personnes dans le monde sont infectées de manière chronique par le virus de l'hépatite B (VHB). La transmission mère-enfant représente la majorité des nouveaux porteurs chroniques du VHB, en particulier en Asie. Le VHB peut être transmis in utero, lors de l'accouchement ou pendant la petite enfance voire plus tard. Environ 80 à 90% des nourrissons infectés à la naissance développent une infection chronique par le VHB avec le risque élevé de développer de graves complications, notamment une fibrose du foie, une cirrhose, un carcinome hépatocellulaire jusqu’à un décès lié au foie à l’âge adulte. Nous avons évalué la proportion des enfants immunisés avec succès dans deux grands hôpitaux de Vientiane, en République démocratique populaire lao, où l’immunoglobuline HB (HBIg) n’est pas disponible. Méthodes : Nous avons étudié une cohorte prospective de femmes enceintes infectées par le VHB et de leurs enfants jusqu'à six mois après la naissance de janvier 2015 à mars 2017. Tous les nourrissons ont reçu le vaccin anti-HB à la naissance et six, 10 et 14 semaines après la naissance. Le statut d’infection par le VHB chez l’enfant a été évalué à l’âge de 6 mois. Le séquençage du gène de surface du VHB a été effectué chez des couples mère-enfant infectés. Résultats : Sur 153 mères ayant été dépistées positives pour l'antigène de surface HB (AgHBs), 60 (39%) avaient l'antigène HBe (AgHBe) positif. Les femmes enceintes ayant AgHBe-positif étaient plus jeunes que les femmes ayant d’AgHBe négatif ((âge médian 26 versus 28 ans; p = 0,02). et avaient une charge virale du VHB significativement plus élevée à l'accouchement (médiane 8,0 versus 4,0 log10 UI / mL, p <0,001). Au total, 141 nouveau-nés, dont une paire de jumeaux, sont nés pendant l'étude. Parmi les 112 nouveau-nés pour lesquels l’information concernant le délai entre la naissance et l’heure d’administration du vaccin contre le VHB était disponible, 110 (98%) ont reçu le vaccin dans les 24 heures suivant la naissance. Le délai médian entre la naissance et l'administration du vaccin était de 6 heures (EI 3 à 13), avec 95 (72%) dans les 12 heures suivant la naissance. Un nouveau-né a reçu le vaccin 26 heures après la naissance car le vaccin n'était pas disponible dans la salle d'accouchement et un autre nouveau-né a reçu le vaccin 3 jours après la naissance car, en raison d'une détresse respiratoire sévère à la naissance, le vaccin a été considéré comme contre-indiqué. Parmi les 120 enfants évalués à l'âge de 6 mois, 5 (4%) étaient positifs pour AgHBs et présentaient une charge virale détectable pour le VHB par réaction en chaîne avec une polymérase. Tous sont nés de mères ayant l’AgHBe positif et une charge virale> 8,5 log10 UI / mL. Cependant, seulement quatre enfants (3,3%, IC à 95%, 0,5% à 7,0%) avaient une souche virale étroitement apparentée à celle de leur mère. Des mutations du gène de surface du VHB (G145G/R, G145G/A, M133T, M133I) ont été détectées chez 4 des 5 enfants infectés. Le taux d'anticorps anti-HBs était supérieur à 10 UI / L chez 105 nourrissons (88%) à l'âge de 6 mois. Conclusions : La transmission de la mère à l'enfant s'est produite moins souvent que ce que nous avions prévu en absence de l'utilisation de HBIg. L’ajout d’une prophylaxie par HBIg et / ou antivirale maternelle aurait pu prévenir certaines de ces infections. L'observation du taux d'anticorps anti-HBs non satisfait chez 9% des enfants non infectés à 6 mois souligne la nécessité d'améliorer les procédures d'immunisation universelles / Background: An estimated 257 million people are chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) worldwide. Mother-to-child transmission accounts for the majority of new chronic HBV carriers, especially in Asia. HBV can be transmitted in utero, during delivery or during infancy and later. About 80–90% of infants infected at birth will develop a chronic HBV infection, and will have a high risk of developing serious complications including liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver-related death during adult age. We aimed at assessing the percentage of infants successfully immunized in two major hospitals in Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) where HB immune globulin (HBIg) is not available. Methods: We studied a prospective cohort of chronically HBV infected pregnant women and their infants until 6 months post-partum from January 2015 to March 2017. All infants received the HB vaccine at birth and 6, 10 and 14 weeks thereafter, and their HBV status was assessed at 6 months of age. HBV surface gene sequencing was performed in infected mother-infant pairs.Results: Of 153 mothers with HB surface antigen (HBsAg), 60 (39%) had detectable serum HBe antigen (HBeAg). HBeAg positive pregnant women were younger than those negative (median age 26 versus 28 years; p=0.02) and had a significantly higher HBV viral load at delivery (median 8.0 versus 4.0 log10 IU/mL, p <0.001). A total of 141 infants including a pair of twins were included in the study and information at the time of vaccine administration after birth was available for 112 newborns. Of these, 110 (98%) received the HepB-BD within 24 hours after birth. One newborn received the vaccine 26 hours after birth because the vaccine was not available at the delivery room, and another newborn 3 days after birth due to fetal distress, which was erroneously considered to be a vaccine contra-indication. Among the 120 infants assessed at 6 months of age, 5 (4%) were positive for HBsAg and had a detectable HBV viral load by polymerase chain reaction. All were born to mothers with HBeAg and a viral load >8.5 log10 IU/mL. However, only four (3.3%, 95% CI 0.5% to 7.0 %) had a virus strain closely related to their mother’s strain. HBV surface gene mutations were detected in 4 of the 5 infected infants (G145G/R, G145G/A, M133T, M133I). Anti-HBs antibody level was above 10 IU/L in 105 (88%) infants at 6 months of age. Conclusions: Mother-to-child transmission occurred less frequently than expected without the use of HBIg. Adding HBIg and/or maternal antiviral prophylaxis may have prevented some of these infections. The observation of unsatisfactory levels of anti-HBs antibodies in 9% of the uninfected infants at 6 months highlights the need for improvement of the universal immunization procedures

A asfixia perinatal e sua mais grave complicação, a encefalopatia hipóxicoisquêmica (EHI) são causas de elevada mortalidade e de sequelas neurológicas no recém-nascido (RN). Evidencias de comprometimento cerebral podem ser detectadas logo na primeira semana de vida e o diagnóstico precoce é de grande importância para o tratamento e seguimento. OBJETIVOS: Verificar a prevalência de asfixia perinatal e de EHI; analisar a utilidade de quatro marcadores sanguíneos: transaminase glutâmica oxalacética (TGO), transaminase glutâmica pirúvica (TGP), desidrogenasse láctica (DHL) e Creatina Quinase MB (CK-MB) coletados ao nascimento, com 24 e 72 horas de vida, como sinalizadores de lesões cerebrais nos RN asfixiados; identificar a presença de alterações neurológicas clínicas pelo Escore de Sarnat e Sarnat (1976) com 24 e 72 horas e com 28 dias de vida e identificar e descrever a presença de lesões cerebrais detectadas pela ultrassonografia de crânio com 24 e 72 horas e com 28 dias de vida. MÉTODO: Estudo de coorte prospectivo no qual foram incluídos RN de termo que apresentaram asfixia perinatal pelo critério de Buonocore (presença ao nascimento de pelo menos dois das seguintes condições clínico-laboratoriais: acidose metabólica com níveis de pH 7,20, Boletim de Apgar no quinto minuto de vida < 6, necessidade de fração inspirada de oxigênio 0,40 para manter uma saturação de oxigênio de 86%). Para realização do pH e dos marcadores bioquímicos foi coletado sangue logo ao nascimento, com 24 e 72 horas de vida. O exame clínico segundo critérios de Sarnat e Sarnat foi realizado com 24 e 72 horas e com 28 dias de vida e a ultrassonografia de crânio nos mesmos momentos. RESULTADOS: De 2.989 nascidos vivos durante o período do estudo, 28 recém-nascidos apresentaram asfixia perinatal (1% do total de nascimentos) e a EHI foi evidenciada em 21,42%. A enzima CK-MB se mostrou um bom marcador de asfixia, pois todos os valores foram superiores a 5,10 ng/ml, e se correlacionaram positivamente com as alterações apresentadas no exame clínico de Sarnat e com a ultrassonografia transfontanela. Os valores das outras enzimas como TGO (24h), TGO e TGP (72h) também se correlacionaram positivamente com as alterações ultrassonográficas as quais mostraram alteração em 3,5% dos pacientes com 24 horas de vida, 25% com 72 horas e 28,6% com 28 dias. A ultrassonografia de crânio com 28 dias mostrou aumento estatisticamente significante, no percentual de resultados anormais quando comparado com o observado com 24h (p=0,039), apesar dos estágios de Sarnat terem melhorado, com maior número de pacientes com estágio I no decorrer dos 28 dias. CONCLUSOES: A prevalência de asfixia perinatal e da EHI estão dentro da faixa citada na literatura. O melhor marcador bioquímico nesta casuística foi a isoenzima CK-MB e se correlacionou com as alterações apresentadas no exame clínico de Sarnat e na USG de crânio. A curva ROC mostrou: os valores de CK-MB de 24 horas em relação à USG de crânio de 72 horas Sensibilidade de 85,7%, Especificidade de 85,7% e Acurácia de 85,7%. O escore clínico de Sarnat não se alterou depois de 72 horas e apresentou correlação com as alterações na USG de crânio e este método de imagem foi adequado para detecção de lesões crebrais precoces e com 28 dias de vida / Perinatal asphyxia and its most serious complication, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) are causes of high mortality and neurological sequelae in the newborn (NB). Evidence of cerebral impairment can be detected in the first week of life and early diagnosis is very important for the treatment and follow-up. OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of perinatal asphyxia and HIE; consider the usefulness of four blood markers: glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) collected the birth, with 24 and 72 hours of life, as markers of brain damage in asphyxiated infants, to identify the presence of neurological clinical score by Sarnat and Sarnat (1976) with 24 and 72 hours and 28 days of life and describe the presence of brain lesions detected by cranial ultrasound with 24 and 72 hours and 28 days. METHOD: A prospective cohort study which included fullterm infants who had perinatal asphyxia by Buonocore criteria (presence at birth of at least two of the following clinical and laboratory conditions: metabolic acidosis with pH levels of the umbilical vein 7.20, Apgar score in the fifth minute of life <6, need for inspired oxygen fraction (FiO2) 0.40 to maintain an oxygen saturation of 86%). To perform the pH and biochemical markers of blood was collected at birth, 24 and 72 hours of life. Clinical examination according to criteria of Sarnat and Sarnat was performed with 24 and 72 hours and 28 days of life and cranial ultrasound was performed in the same time. RESULTS: Of 2989 live births during the study period, 28 had asphyxia (1% of total births) and HIE was found in 21.42%. The CK-MB showed that all above normal values (<5.10ng/ml) and correlated with the changes presented in the clinical examination of Sarnat and the USG transfontanelle. The values of other enzymes such as GOT (24h), GOT and GPT (72h) also correlated positively with the brain lesins detected by cranial ultrasound in 3.5% of patients with 24 hours of life, 25% at 72 hours and 28 6% after 28 days. Ultrasonography of brain at 28 days showed a statistically significant increase in the percentage of abnormal results when compared with that observed at 24h (p = 0.039), despite the Sarnat stages have improved, with larger numbers of patients with stage I during the 28 days. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of perinatal asphyxia and HIE is within the range cited in literature. The best biochemical marker in this series was the CK-MB and correlated with the changes presented in the clinical examination of Sarnat and ultrasound transfontanelle. The ROC curve showed: values of CK-MB of 24 hours and USG 72 hours sensitivity of 85.7%, specificity of 85.7% and accuracy of 85.7%. The clinical Sarnat score did not change after 72 hours and correlated with changes in ultrasound transfontanelle and this imaging method proved to be an appropiate study to detect brain lesions early and with 28 days of life