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Comparison of fetal cardiac functions between small-for-gestational age fetuses and late-onset growth-restricted fetuses

  • Başak Kaya EMAIL logo , Ahmet Tayyar , Deniz Kanber Açar and Serdar Kaya
Published/Copyright: August 6, 2019

Abstract

Background

This study aimed to investigate fetal cardiac functions by spectral tissue Doppler imaging (s-TDI) in pregnancies complicated with late-onset fetal growth restriction (LO-FGR) and small-for-gestational age (SGA).

Methods

Forty pregnancies complicated with late-onset FGR and 40 pregnancies complicated with SGA between the 34th and 37th weeks of gestation were enrolled in this study. Forty gestational age-matched pregnant women with no obstetrics complication were randomly selected as a control group. Small fetuses were classified as fetal growth restriction or SGA according to estimated fetal weight (EFW), umbilical artery pulsatility index (PI), cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) and uterine artery PI. s-TDI measurements were obtained at the right atrioventricular valve annulus.

Results

SGA and LO-FGR fetuses had significantly lower A′ and S′ values, and higher E′/A′ ratio than the control group (P < 0.001). In comparison to controls, significantly prolonged isovolumetric contraction time (ICT′) and isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT′) and, significantly shortened ejection time (ET′) were observed in fetuses with SGA and LO-FGR. Increased myocardial performance index (MPI′) values were also found in fetuses with SGA and LO-FGR compared to controls.

Conclusion

The signs of cardiac dysfunction were observed both in fetuses with SGA and LO-FGR. The fetal cardiac function assessment with s-TDI could be a valuable method in the diagnosis of true growth restricted fetuses and in the management of these fetuses.


Corresponding author: Başak Kaya, MD, Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Istanbul Medipol University Hospital, TEM Avrupa Otoyolu Göztepe Çıkışı no: 1, Bağcılar, Istanbul 34214, Turkey

  1. Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.

  2. Research funding: None declared.

  3. Employment or leadership: None declared.

  4. Honorarium: None declared.

  5. Competing interests: The funding organization(s) played no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the report for publication.

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Received: 2019-06-07
Accepted: 2019-07-21
Published Online: 2019-08-06
Published in Print: 2019-10-25

© 2019 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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