Research Information System
Journal of clinical ultrasound : JCU, 2024 (SCI-Expanded)
Abstract
Purpose: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a common pregnancy complication that
can be associated with several adverse perinatal outcomes. One of these negative
outcomes is ductus arteriosus, especially in preterm babies. In this study, intrauterine
heart function and ductus diameter were evaluated in babies with FGR.
Methods: Thirty-seven fetuses with FGR were compared with 37 normal-weight
fetuses at the same gestational week. In our study, ventricular diameters, aorta, pulmonary
artery, ductus arteriosus (DA), aortic arch diameter, and flow traces were
examined. In addition, the aorta and aortic isthmus diameters were proportioned to
the ductus diameter, and the left ventricular myocardial performance index (MPI)
[(ICT + IRT)/ET] was evaluated.
Results: There was no difference in DA diameters between the patient and control
groups. The intragroup comparison of the cases with early- and late-onset FGR
revealed no statistically significant difference between DA diameters. However, the
ratios of the aortic annulus diameter/ductus diameter (AOD/DAD) and aortic isthmus
diameter/ductus diameter (AID/DAD) were significantly lower in early-onset FGR
because the diameter of the DA was greater. In addition, the mod-MPI values were
higher in the patient group.
Conclusions: In our study, although the ductal diameters did not change significantly
in the patient group, the ductal diameter was greater in the early-onset intrauterine
growth restriction (FGR) group compared with other cardiac measurements. The
mod-MPI value, a cardiac function indicator, was higher in fetuses with FGR. These
findings may be useful for evaluating postnatal cardiac functions in FGR.