Premium
Left atrial shortening fraction in fetuses with and without myocardial hypertrophy in diabetic pregnancies
Author(s) -
Zielinsky P.,
Luchese S.,
Manica J. L.,
Piccoli A. L.,
Nicoloso L. H.,
Leite M. F.,
Hagemann L.,
Busato A.,
Moraes M. R.
Publication year - 2009
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.6154
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiology , fetus , fetal heart , muscle hypertrophy , fraction (chemistry) , ejection fraction , pregnancy , heart failure , genetics , biology , chemistry , organic chemistry
Objective To test the hypothesis that, in diabetic pregnancies, left atrial shortening fraction (LASF) is decreased in fetuses with myocardial hypertrophy, compared to those without hypertrophy and to fetuses of non‐diabetic mothers. Methods Fetal echocardiography was performed in women with pre‐existing or gestational diabetes and in non‐diabetic controls between 25 weeks' gestation and term. LASF was calculated using the formula: (end‐systolic diameter—end‐diastolic diameter)/end‐systolic diameter, and data were compared between diabetic women with and without fetal myocardial hypertrophy and controls. Results The study population comprised 53 diabetic women and 45 controls. Out of the 53 fetuses of diabetic women, 14 had myocardial hypertrophy and 39 had normal septal thickness. Gestational age at the time of examination did not differ significantly between the control group and the two diabetic subgroups ( P = 0.57). Fetuses with myocardial hypertrophy presented a mean ( ± SD) LASF of 0.32 ± 0.11, those without myocardial hypertrophy 0.46 ± 0.12, and those of normal mothers 0.53 ± 0.09 ( P < 0.001). A significant inverse linear correlation was observed between LASF and septal thickness ( r = − 0.51, P < 0.001). Conclusions In diabetic pregnancies, LASF is lower in fetuses with myocardial hypertrophy than it is in those without hypertrophy and in fetuses of non‐diabetic women, suggesting that LASF could be a useful alternative parameter in the assessment of fetal diastolic function. Copyright © 2008 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.