Study on the echocardiographic evaluation of fetal heart function of gestational diabetes

Objective:To study the change of fetal heart function of gestational diabetes by echocardiography.Methods:Nineteen fetuses of diabetic mothers and 96 healthy subjects were involved.Interventricular septum thickness at end-diastole(IVSd),left ventricular wall thickness(LVWT),right ventricular wall thickness(RVWT),left ventricular fraction shortening(LVFS) and right ventricular fraction shortening(RVFS) were detected by M-mode echocardiography.The Tei index,peak velocity of aortic valve(VPAO),peak velocity of pulmonary valve(VPPA),the ratio of E and A of mitral and tricuspid flow(E/AMV,E/ATV) were obtained by pulsed Doppler.Isovolumic contraction time(ICT),isovolumic relaxation time(IRT) and ejection time(ET) of fetal left and right ventricle were measured and the Tei index calculated using the formula(ICT+IRT) /ET.Results:After 34 weeks,there was significant difference in LVFS,RVFS,E/AMV,E/ATV,VPAO and VPPA between fetuses of diabetic mothers and normal fetuses.After 30 weeks,there was significant difference in Tei Index,IVSd,LVWT and RVWT between the two groups.Conclusion:The fetal heart function was impaired and cardiac hypertrophy happened after 30 weeks in diabetic mothers.The Tei index may be the sensitive method of estimating myocardial performance in fetuses with maternal diabetes.