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.
Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
Research funding: None declared.
Employment or leadership: None declared.
Honorarium: None declared.
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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© 2019 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Review
- The role of complement in preterm birth and prematurity
- Original Articles – Obstetrics
- Variation in C-reactive protein at 1 month post-partum by etiology of preterm birth: selective identification of those at risk for both poor pregnancy outcome and future health complications
- Procedure related risk of premature delivery and fetal growth reduction following amniocentesis, transcervical and transabdominal chorionic villus sampling: a retrospective study
- Cervical length at 31–34 weeks of gestation: transvaginal vs. transperineal ultrasonographic approach
- The origin of amniotic fluid monocytes/macrophages in women with intra-amniotic inflammation or infection
- Placental elasticity assessment by point shear wave elastography in pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction
- A 17-years analysis of terminations of pregnancy ≥14 weeks of gestation in a German level 1 perinatal center
- Simulation of an impacted fetal head extraction during cesarean section: description of the creation and evaluation of a new training program
- Academic tweeting in #ObGyn. Where do we stand?
- Original Articles – Fetus
- Fetal heart examination at the time of 13 weeks scan: a 5 years’ prospective study
- Comparison of fetal cardiac functions between small-for-gestational age fetuses and late-onset growth-restricted fetuses
- Original Article – Newborn
- Protocols for early discharging of premature infants: an empirical assessment on safety and savings
- Letter to the Editor
- Maternal blood pressure levels prepartum correlate with neonatal birth weight in preeclampsia
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Review
- The role of complement in preterm birth and prematurity
- Original Articles – Obstetrics
- Variation in C-reactive protein at 1 month post-partum by etiology of preterm birth: selective identification of those at risk for both poor pregnancy outcome and future health complications
- Procedure related risk of premature delivery and fetal growth reduction following amniocentesis, transcervical and transabdominal chorionic villus sampling: a retrospective study
- Cervical length at 31–34 weeks of gestation: transvaginal vs. transperineal ultrasonographic approach
- The origin of amniotic fluid monocytes/macrophages in women with intra-amniotic inflammation or infection
- Placental elasticity assessment by point shear wave elastography in pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction
- A 17-years analysis of terminations of pregnancy ≥14 weeks of gestation in a German level 1 perinatal center
- Simulation of an impacted fetal head extraction during cesarean section: description of the creation and evaluation of a new training program
- Academic tweeting in #ObGyn. Where do we stand?
- Original Articles – Fetus
- Fetal heart examination at the time of 13 weeks scan: a 5 years’ prospective study
- Comparison of fetal cardiac functions between small-for-gestational age fetuses and late-onset growth-restricted fetuses
- Original Article – Newborn
- Protocols for early discharging of premature infants: an empirical assessment on safety and savings
- Letter to the Editor
- Maternal blood pressure levels prepartum correlate with neonatal birth weight in preeclampsia