EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ANAESTHESIOLOGY, vol.12, no.5, pp.525-527, 1995 (SCI-Expanded)
Umbilical cord blood was collected immediately after parturition in full term neonates during Caesarean section under either general or epidural anaesthesia. Using a radioimmunoassay technique, beta-endorphin concentrations were measured in the plasma of neonates and Apgar scores were evaluated. The mean value of beta-endorphin was 56.80 +/- 14.35 (pg mL(-1)) in the general anaesthesia group, and 53.17 +/- 10.58 (pg mL(-1)) in the epidural anaesthesia group (N.S.).