Assessment of the Cardiac Function in Intrauterine Growth-Restricted Fetuses and Appropriate for Gestational Age Fetuses

AimAim of the study is to evaluate the myocardial performance index in intrauterine growth restricted fetuses and compare this index with appropriate for gestational age fetuses.Materials & MethodsA prospective study was conducted in S.M.S Medical College Jaipur, involving 72 singleton fetuses >= 28 weeks of gestation divided into two groups: 36 intrauterine growth restricted fetuses (IUGR) and 36 appropriate for gestational age fetuses (AGA). Myocardial performance index was obtained by fetal echocardiography.ResultsThe mean myocardial performance index in the IUGR fetuses and AGA fetuses was statistically significant and that was 0.62 +/- 0.02 and 0.45 +/- 0.01, respectively; (p value: <0.0001). These findings suggest that IUGR induces primary cardiac changes, which could explain the increased predisposition to cardiovascular disease in adult life. This study concluded that Fetal echocardiographic parameters (MPI) identify a high risk group within the IUGR fetuses, which could be targeted for early screening of blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors, as well as for promoting a healthy diet and physical exercise.