Aim:
Cardiac functions of fetuses having and not having an isolated hyperechogenic focus (IHF) in their left ventricle on fetal echocardiographic (FE) examination were evaluated using conventional echocardiography, ductus venosus (DV) wave velocities, and DV peak velocity index for veins (DV-PVIV).
Materials and Methods:
Thirty healthy fetuses that were between 20-24 weeks of gestation and who were detected to have or have not IHF in their left ventricle on FE were included in the study. Thirty fetuses with IHF in the left ventricle constituted the study group and 30 fetuses without IHF constituted the control group. Presence of IHF was evaluated with two dimensional echocardiography. DV wave velocities (S, v, D, a), and DV-PVIV (S-a/D) were measured with PW Doppler echocardiography.
Results:
A statistically significant difference was not detected between the groups in terms of age, BMI and gestational weeks of the mothers. While a significant difference was not detected between study and control groups in terms of fractional shortening (FS), mitral E, A, E/A ratio and DV-S and DV-D wave velocities, a significant difference was detected between DV-v deceleration (37.66±7.36, 41.08±8.29, p=0.032) and DV-a wave velocities (27.20±6.78, 29.90±7.09, p=0.048). A significant difference was not detected between groups in terms of DV-PVIV (p>0.05).
Conclusion:
Presence of IHF in the left ventricle of fetuses between 20-24 gestational weeks has led to changes in DV-v and DV-a wave velocities. This change may indirectly be associated with reduced end-systolic relaxation and increased atrium contraction. DV flow velocity should also be evaluated with PW Doppler when cardiac functions of the fetuses having IHF in the left ventricle are being examined.
Keywords: Fetus, fetal echocardiography, ductus venosus wave velocities
