The follow up of 114 fetuses and newborns (without chromosomal aberrations) with echogenic intracardiac focus detected in prenatal USG

• Authors: Łukasz Sokołowski , Maria Respondek Liberska
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Introduction: The majority of research regarding echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) concentrates on its weak correlation with the occurrence of Down syndrome. The aim of our research was to approach this problem from a wider perspective and to find out, if the prenatal diagnosis of EIF is connected with the occurrence of other abnormalities of prenatal and postnatal period. Materials & Methods: The data of 114 patients with prenatally diagnosed EIF were analyzed retrospectively. No fetal or neonatal chromosomal abnormalities were included. Results: In 13/114 (11,4%) fetuses cardiological abnormalities other then EIF were diagnosed: 8/114 (7%) cases of congenital heart defects and 7/114 (6,1%) cases of tricuspid valve regurgitation. Extracardiac malformations were diagnosed in 11/114 (8,8%) of fetuses. In 7/114 (6,1%) of the cases the abnormal volume of amniotic fluid was diagnosed. In 4/114 (3,5%) of pregnancies the premature rapture of membranes (PROM) occurred. Six, 6/114 (5,3%) of pregnancies were at risk of intrauterine asphyxia in perinatal period. 12/114 (10,5%) newborns were delivered before 37th week of gestation, stillbirth occurred in 1/114 (0,9%) case. Most newborns (86/114; 75,4%) birth weight >3000g. In 19/114 (16,7%) of newborns birth weight was 2500g-3000g. In 9/114 (7,9%) of newborns birth weight was <2500g Conclusions: Fetuses with EIF without chromosomal aberrations may present heart defects which are hard to diagnose in basic obstetrical USG scan. Therefore, those patients should be directed to prenatal cardiology facilities for evaluation of the fetal heart. Prenatal EIF in fetuses without chromosomal aberrations may indicate low birth weight (<2500g) in the future. Further research of this matter is needed.

Keywords

EN

echogenic intracardiac focus; EIF; Bright Spot; fetal echocardiography; prenatal cardiology; prenatal diagnosic; ultrasonography

• Publisher: De Gruyter Open
• Journal: Prenatal Cardiology
• Year: 2014
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 6-10

Dates

published

1 - 6 - 2014

online

30 - 12 - 2015

accepted

30 - 6 - 2014

received

5 - 4 - 2014

Contributors

author

Łukasz Sokołowski

• Students’ Scientific Circle of Prenatal Cardiology
• Department of Prenatal Cardiology, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Research Institute

author

Maria Respondek Liberska

• Department of Diagnoses and Prevention Fetal Malformations Medical University of Lodz

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Identifiers

DOI

10.12847/06141