Comparison of cardiac morphology and function in small for gestational age fetuses and fetuses with late-onset fetal growth retardation

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ezgi Turgut ◽  
Halis Özdemir ◽  
Gökçe Turan ◽  
Merih Bayram ◽  
Deniz Karcaaltincaba

Abstract Objectives To compare cardiac structural and functional findings of fetuses with fetal growth restriction (FGR) and small for gestational age (SGA). Methods In this prospective cohort study, patients were classified into three groups using Delphi procedure according to fetal weight, umbilical, uterine artery Doppler and cerebroplacental ratio. Fetal cardiac ultrasonographic morphology and Doppler examination was performed to all pregnant women at 36 weeks of gestation. Results Seventy three patients were included in the study. There were one (6.7%) patient in the control group, 2 (13.3%) in the SGA group and 12 (80%) in the FGR group who needed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and NICU requirement was significantly higher in FGR fetuses (p<0.001). Left spherical index was found to be lower only among FGR fetuses (p=0.046). Left ventricular wall thickness was decreased and the right/left ventricular wall ratio was increased in FGR fetuses (p=0.006, p<0.001). Tricuspid/mitral valve ratio and mitral annular plane systolic excursion value was lower in FGR fetuses (p=0.034, p=0.024 respectively). Also, myocardial performance index was remarkably higher in FGR group (p=0.002). Conclusions We detected cardiac morphological changes in cases of both SGA and FGR—more pronounced in the FGR cases. Findings related to morphological changes on the left side in FGR cases were considered secondary to volume increase in FGR cases as an indicator of a brain-protective effect. In the FGR group, both systolic and diastolic dysfunctions were detected in the left heart.

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (11) ◽  
pp. 648
Author(s):  
Noémia Rosado da Silva ◽  
Joana Oliveira ◽  
Alberto Berenguer ◽  
André M. Graça ◽  
Margarida Abrantes ◽  
...  

Introduction: Prematurity and low birth weight have been associated with increased neonatal morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate possible risk factors for prematurity associated with fetal growth restriction and being small for gestational age and to determine the incidence of morbidity in these two groups of infants.Material and Methods: Retrospective case-control study of newborns with gestational age of less than 32 weeks, with obstetric diagnosis of fetal growth restriction and with the clinical diagnosis of small for gestational age, admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary hospital for a period of six years.Results: A total of 356 newborns were studied, with an incidence of 11% of fetal growth restriction and 18% of small for gestational age. Pre-eclampsia was the risk factor for gestation with higher statistical significance (47% vs 16%, p < 0.001) in small for gestational age newborns. There was also a higher incidence of mild bronchopulmonary dysplasia (66% vs 38%, p = 0.005), late sepsis (59% vs 37%, p = 0.003), retinopathy of prematurity (58% vs 26%, p = 0.003) and necrotizing enterocolitis (20% vs 9%, p = 0.005). Mortality was similar in all three groups.Discussion: There were fewer newborn males diagnosed with fetal growth restriction during pregnancy compared to women. Significant differences were observed in the group of these infants regarding the occurrence of chorioamnionitis and pre-eclampsia in comparison to the control group. Newborns with fetal growth restriction and small for age had higher scores on clinical risk indices compared to the control group. In general, small for gestational age newborns had a higher incidence of morbidity than infants with fetal growth restriction and the control group.Conclusion: Advances in neonatal intensive care decreased mortality in preterm infants. However, there are still significant differences in the incidence of morbidity in newborns with growth compromise. The collaboration between obstetricians and neonatologists provides the basis for a correct clinical evaluation, early signaling and global intervention on these newborns, with a significant impact on short and long-term prognosis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 879-884
Author(s):  
Başak Kaya ◽  
Ahmet Tayyar ◽  
Deniz Kanber Açar ◽  
Serdar Kaya

Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate fetal cardiac functions by spectral tissue Doppler imaging (s-TDI) in pregnancies complicated with late-onset fetal growth restriction (LO-FGR) and small-for-gestational age (SGA). Methods Forty pregnancies complicated with late-onset FGR and 40 pregnancies complicated with SGA between the 34th and 37th weeks of gestation were enrolled in this study. Forty gestational age-matched pregnant women with no obstetrics complication were randomly selected as a control group. Small fetuses were classified as fetal growth restriction or SGA according to estimated fetal weight (EFW), umbilical artery pulsatility index (PI), cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) and uterine artery PI. s-TDI measurements were obtained at the right atrioventricular valve annulus. Results SGA and LO-FGR fetuses had significantly lower A′ and S′ values, and higher E′/A′ ratio than the control group (P < 0.001). In comparison to controls, significantly prolonged isovolumetric contraction time (ICT′) and isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT′) and, significantly shortened ejection time (ET′) were observed in fetuses with SGA and LO-FGR. Increased myocardial performance index (MPI′) values were also found in fetuses with SGA and LO-FGR compared to controls. Conclusion The signs of cardiac dysfunction were observed both in fetuses with SGA and LO-FGR. The fetal cardiac function assessment with s-TDI could be a valuable method in the diagnosis of true growth restricted fetuses and in the management of these fetuses.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salvatore Tagliaferri ◽  
Pasquale Cepparulo ◽  
Antonio Vinciguerra ◽  
Marta Campanile ◽  
Giuseppina Esposito ◽  
...  

Current tests available to diagnose fetal hypoxia in-utero lack sensitivity thus failing to identify many fetuses at risk. Emerging evidence suggests that microRNAs derived from the placenta circulate in the maternal blood during pregnancy and may be used as non-invasive biomarkers for pregnancy complications. With the intent to identify putative markers of fetal growth restriction (FGR) and new therapeutic druggable targets, we examined, in maternal blood samples, the expression of a group of microRNAs, known to be regulated by hypoxia. The expression of microRNAs was evaluated in maternal plasma samples collected from (1) women carrying a preterm FGR fetus (FGR group) or (2) women with an appropriately grown fetus matched at the same gestational age (Control group). To discriminate between early- and late-onset FGR, the study population was divided into two subgroups according to the gestational age at delivery. Four microRNAs were identified as possible candidates for the diagnosis of FGR: miR-16-5p, miR-103-3p, miR-107-3p, and miR-27b-3p. All four selected miRNAs, measured by RT-PCR, resulted upregulated in FGR blood samples before the 32nd week of gestation. By contrast, miRNA103-3p and miRNA107-3p, analyzed between the 32nd and 37th week of gestation, showed lower expression in the FGR group compared to aged matched controls. Our results showed that measurement of miRNAs in maternal blood may form the basis for a future diagnostic test to determine the degree of fetal hypoxia in FGR, thus allowing the start of appropriate therapeutic interventions to alleviate the burden of this disease.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (13) ◽  
pp. 2984
Author(s):  
Ricardo Savirón-Cornudella ◽  
Luis Mariano Esteban ◽  
Rocío Aznar-Gimeno ◽  
Peña Dieste-Pérez ◽  
Faustino R. Pérez-López ◽  
...  

Small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants have been associated with increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes (APOs). In this work, we assess the predictive ability of the ultrasound-estimated percentile weight (EPW) at 35 weeks of gestational age to predict late-onset SGA and APOs, according to six growth standards, and whether the ultrasound–delivery interval influences the detection rate. To this purpose, we analyze a retrospective cohort study of 9585 singleton pregnancies. EPWs at 35 weeks were calculated to the customized Miguel Servet University Hospital (MSUH) and Figueras standards and the non-customized MSUH, Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF), INTERGROWTH-21st, and WHO standards. As results of our analysis, for a 10% false positive rate, the detection rates for SGA ranged between 48.9% with the customized Figueras standard (AUC 0.82) and 60.8% with the non-customized FMF standard (AUC 0.87). Detection rates to predict SGA by ultrasound–delivery interval (1–6 weeks) show higher detection rates as intervals decrease. APOs detection rates ranged from 27.0% with FMF to 7.9% with the Figueras standard. In conclusion, the ability of EPW to predict SGA at 35 weeks is good for all standards, and slightly better for non-customized standards. The APO detection rate is significantly greater for non-customized standards.


Author(s):  
Mariko Ashina ◽  
Takumi Kido ◽  
Yuki Kyono ◽  
Asumi Yoshida ◽  
Shutaro Suga ◽  
...  

Severe small-for-gestational-age (sSGA) infants exhibit increased mortality and morbidity. Oxidative stress is suggested to be involved in intrauterine growth restriction. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the oxidative stress level at birth in an sSGA population. Sera of 28 sSGA (sSGA group) and 31 non-sSGA (control group) infants, born at our hospital between March 2017 and March 2020, were evaluated. Oxidative stress (derivative of reactive oxidative metabolites: d-ROM level), biological antioxidant potential (BAP) level, and the ratio of d-ROM/BAP level (oxidative stress index: OSI) were measured. The sSGA group had a significantly lower birth weight (BW), BW z-score, head circumference, and height than the control group (all p < 0.05). No significant difference was noted in the BAP level; sSGA infants exhibited a significantly higher d-ROM level than control infants. sSGA infants showed a significantly increased OSI compared with control infants, and the BW z-score was inversely correlated with d-ROM levels and OSI in sSGA infants (R2 = 0.300; p < 0.01 and R2 = 0.319; p = 0.02, respectively) but not in controls. In conclusion, sSGA infants, including preterm infants, exhibited higher oxidative stress at birth. The severity of fetal growth restriction was significantly correlated with oxidative stress levels at birth in sSGA infants.


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