Premium
Abnormal maternal cardiac function precedes the clinical manifestation of fetal growth restriction
Author(s) -
Vasapollo B.,
Valensise H.,
Novelli G. P.,
Altomare F.,
Galante A.,
Arduini D.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1002/uog.1095
Subject(s) - medicine , small for gestational age , fetus , hemodynamics , vascular resistance , intrauterine growth restriction , cardiology , gestation , stroke volume , obstetrics , gestational age , umbilical artery , cardiac output , pregnancy , cardiac function curve , cardiac index , ductus venosus , blood pressure , heart rate , heart failure , genetics , biology
Objective To compare maternal hemodynamics in women whose fetuses are small‐for‐gestational age (SGA) with those in women with fetal growth restriction (FGR) before manifestation of the clinical disease. Methods Thirty‐five normotensive pregnant women with fetal abdominal circumference < 10th centile, normal fetal anatomy and normal umbilical artery pulsatility index (PI) underwent maternal echocardiographic examinations between 27 and 30 weeks of gestation. Pregnancies were followed until delivery and fetuses were retrospectively classified as either SGA or FGR and the maternal hemodynamic data were compared. Results Nineteen SGA and 16 FGR patients were retrospectively identified after delivery. Heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, left atrial function and left ventricular mass index were higher, while mean blood pressure and total vascular resistance were lower in the SGA group compared with the FGR group. A significant inverse linear correlation was found between total vascular resistance and weight centile ( r = 0.83; P < 0.0001). Conclusions Mothers of SGA fetuses show hemodynamic features similar to those with physiological pregnancies suggesting that their fetuses are likely to be constitutionally small and not pathologically growth‐restricted. Copyright © 2004 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.