Reduced fetal cerebral oxygen consumption is associated with abnormal white matter in newborns with congenital heart disease

Background Congenital heart disease (CHD) is associated with brain dysmaturation, increased risk of perioperative white matter (WM) injury and neurodevelopmental delay (1). Fetal Doppler studies have shown altered cerebrovascular flow dynamics in CHD, suggesting ‘brain-sparing physiology’. We sought to determine whether postnatal cerebral WM microstructural abnormality relates to abnormal fetal hemodynamics.