Laura García-Otero1, Olga Gómez2, Mérida Rodriguez-López1,3, Ximena Torres1, Iris Soveral1, Álvaro Sepúlveda-Martínez1,4, Laura Guirado1, Brenda Valenzuela-Alcaraz1, Marta López1, Josep Maria Martínez1, Eduard Gratacós1, Fàtima Crispi1. 1. Fetal Medicine Research Center, BCNatal - Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Deu), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, and Centre for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBER-ER), Barcelona, Spain. 2. Fetal Medicine Research Center, BCNatal - Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine (Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Deu), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, and Centre for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBER-ER), Barcelona, Spain, lauriss00@gmail.com. 3. Pontificia Universidad Javeriana seccional Cali, Cali, Colombia. 4. Fetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: There is a need for standardized reference values for cardiac dimensions in prenatal life. The objective of the present study was to construct nomograms for fetal cardiac dimensions using a well-defined echocardiographic methodology in a low-risk population. METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study including 602 low-risk singleton pregnancies undergoing a standardized fetal echocardiography to accurately assess fetal cardiac, ventricular, and atrial dimensions. Parametric regressions were tested to model each measurement against gestational age from 18 to 41 weeks of gestation. RESULTS: Nomograms were constructed for fetal cardiac dimensions (transverse and longitudinal diameters and areas) of the whole heart, atria, and ventricles, as well as myocardial wall thicknesses. All dimensions showed a progressive increase with gestational age. The best model for most parameters was a second-degree linear polynomial. Fetal cardiac, ventricular, and atrial diameters and areas were successfully obtained in 98.6% of the fetuses, while myocardial wall thicknesses could be obtained in 96.5% of the population. The results showed excellent interobserver and intraobserver reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC > 0.811 and ICC > 0.957, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: We provide standardized and comprehensively evaluated reference values for fetal cardiac morphometric parameters across gestation in a low-risk population. These no mograms would enable the early identification of different patterns of fetal cardiac remodeling.
OBJECTIVE: There is a need for standardized reference values for cardiac dimensions in prenatal life. The objective of the present study was to construct nomograms for fetal cardiac dimensions using a well-defined echocardiographic methodology in a low-risk population. METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study including 602 low-risk singleton pregnancies undergoing a standardized fetal echocardiography to accurately assess fetal cardiac, ventricular, and atrial dimensions. Parametric regressions were tested to model each measurement against gestational age from 18 to 41 weeks of gestation. RESULTS: Nomograms were constructed for fetal cardiac dimensions (transverse and longitudinal diameters and areas) of the whole heart, atria, and ventricles, as well as myocardial wall thicknesses. All dimensions showed a progressive increase with gestational age. The best model for most parameters was a second-degree linear polynomial. Fetal cardiac, ventricular, and atrial diameters and areas were successfully obtained in 98.6% of the fetuses, while myocardial wall thicknesses could be obtained in 96.5% of the population. The results showed excellent interobserver and intraobserver reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC > 0.811 and ICC > 0.957, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: We provide standardized and comprehensively evaluated reference values for fetal cardiac morphometric parameters across gestation in a low-risk population. These no mograms would enable the early identification of different patterns of fetal cardiac remodeling.
Authors: Ximena Torres; Mar Bennasar; Laura García-Otero; Raigam J Martínez-Portilla; Brenda Valenzuela-Alcaraz; Fátima Crispi; Anna Goncé; Eduard Gratacós; Francesc Figueras; Josep M Martínez Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2020-11-09 Impact factor: 4.241