All issues > Volume 33(8); 1990

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1990;33(8):1048-1056. Published online August 31, 1990.

The Apgar Score and Umbilical Arterial pH in the Newborn.

Hoo Jae Hann¹, Eun Ae Park¹, Kyung Hee Kim¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University Hospital, Seoul, Korea

Received: April 20, 1990;  Accepted: June 26, 1990.

Abstract

In this prospective study, the relation between the Apgar scores and umbilical arterial pH at birth was assessed. 314 newborns of gestational age 24 to 42 weeks were included in this study； (95 were preterm and 219 were full-term) The l and 5-minute Apgar scores were directly related to gestational age. In preterm babies, the Apgar scores tend to be low in spite of normal range of umbilical arterial pH. (UA pH >7.25 and Apgar score^6) On the contrary, the Apgar scores were high in babies with lower range of umbilical arterial pH in full-term. (UA pH<7.25 and Apgar score之7) So, we concluded that Apgar score does not usually reflect the degree of acidosis at birth and its value as an index for asphyxial assessment and well-being must be questioned.

Keywords :Apgar score, Umbilical arterial pH, Gestational age