Evaluation of infants with acidosis using a perinatal "negative factor" score.

Using Prechtl's concept of optimal conditions as modified by Michaelis et al. [7] we analysed the case records of 50 acidotic newborn infants (umbilical artery pH of 7,250 or less) and of 34 controls. Acidotic infants had a significantly higher negative (or adverse) factor score. There was a correlation between the degree of acidosis and the negative factor score. There were, however, no relations between scores in isolated subgroups of negative factors and fetal acidosis though the same was not true for some combinations of subgroups (such as pre-eclampsia, operative delivery, fetal bradycardia in the second stage of labour).