Essential and nonessential amino acids in appropriate and small for gestational age fetuses with congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

: The aim of the study was to evaluate the correlation between valine and glycine, representatives of essential and nonessential amino acids, in appropriate and small fetuses for gestational age with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Umbilical venous cord blood was obtained by cordocentesis at 22 to 29 weeks' gestation from 18 women (11 in appropriate for gestational age (AGA) -A, and 7 in small for gestational age (SGA) -B) fetuses with CMV infection. Plasma amino acids were measured with a Beckman M 121 amino acid analyzer. Maternal valine level was 136.0 mmol/l; fetal valine in AGA and SGA fetuses: 219 and 189 mmol/l, respectively. Fetomaternal valine ratio was significantly lower in the SGA group (1.39 mmol/l-SGA, 1.61 mmol/l AGA, t = 6.9 p < 0.001). The glycine level in maternal blood was 139.0 mmol/l; fetal in SGA and AGA fetuses 137 mmol/l, and 176 mmol/l, respectively. The fetomaternal glycine ratio was also significantly lower in the SGA group than in AGA. 1.01 and 1.27, respectively (t = -2.96, p < 0.001). Valine/glycine maternal and fetal ratio did not show any difference between groups. In the congenital CMV infected fetuses with intrauterine growth retardation there were decreased valine and glycine levels compared to the congenitally CMV infected fetuses with normal intrauterine growth. There was a lower fetal concentration of these amino acids compared to the maternal level in SGA fetuses. A decreased glycine level compared to the valine level has also been found in congenitally CMV infected fetuses with intrauterine growth retardation.