Evaluation of fetal cardiac function with intracardiac hyperechogenic focus by tissue Doppler imaging

Objective To evaluate cardiac function in fetuses with intracardiac hyperechogenic focus (ICEF) by tissue Doppler imaging(TDI).Methods Fetal echocardiography was performed in 335 fetuses for evaluation of fetal cardiac function with ICEF by TDI,two-dimensional,M-mode and pulsed Doppler echocardiography.The ratio between early ventricular filling(E-wave)and active atrial filling(A-wave)peak velocities at the level of the atrioventricularvalves as an index of ventricular diastolic function.TDI mode was used to measure the mitral and tricuspid valve annulus including Em,Am and Sm.The characteristics of fetal echocardiography of 119 fetuses with ICEF were compared with 137 normal fetuses.Results E/A and Em/Am were significantly lower in fetuses with ICEF than in control fetuses.Positive correlation was found between the velocity of orifice and annulus in controls.No systematic differences were found in cardiac dimensions,ventricular shortening fraction,Doppler and TDI systolic indices between groups.Conclusions TDI is feasible and reproducible to evaluate fetal ventricular function,and it can avoid the influence of fetal heart rates and preloading.Fetuses with ICEF show lower Em/Am values in the second to third trimester echocardiography,it might indicate cardiac diastolic dysfunction. Key words: Ultrasonography,prenatal; Fetal heart; Intracardiac hyperechogenic focus