Fetal epicardial fat thickness in fetal growth restriction; effects on fetal heart function and relationship with the severity of disease

Objective To investigate fetal epicardial fat thickness (EFT) value in fetal growth restriction (FGR) and its relationship with clinical parameters, fetal modified myocardial index (Mod-MPI), and the Doppler parameters. Material methods Eighty-five pregnant women, with 30 diagnosed with FGR and 55 healthy pregnant women as control group participated in this prospective case-control study. FGR group was divided into 2 subgroups as early (n = 9) and late FGR (n = 21) groups. Demographic data were taken from the medical records. Amnion fluid value, fetal biometric measurements, and Doppler parameters were obtained. Fetal EFT and fetal Mod-MPI were measured by using the echocardiographic methods. The correlation tests were performed to assess the association between EFT and clinical and ultrasonographic parameters. p < .05 was interpreted as statistically significant. Results EFT value was found statistically lower in the early and late FGR groups than the control group (p = .003). Higher umbilical artery pulsatility index (PI) and lower cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) values were found in the early and late FGR (p < .001, p = .001). The optimal EFT cutoff level to predict FGR disease was measured as 1.25 with 63.3% specificity and 77.4% sensitivity. Lower ejection time (ET) and higher Mod-MPI and isovolumetric contraction time (ICT) values were found in the group FGR with absent UAEDF than in the group FGR with no absent UAEDF (p = .001, p < .000, p < .000, respectively). Correlation tests showed statistically negative and weak correlations among EFT, umbilical artery PI, and mean Ut A-PI (p = .019, p = .019). Positive correlations were found in regard to gestational age, EFW, and EFT (p = .002, p < .000). Conclusion Our study showed that the measurement of EFT may contribute to predicting the diagnosis of FGR. Moreover, lower EFT values can be related to the severity of FGR. Future randomized control studies are needed to understand the effects and pathways of fetal EFT on fetal cardiac function.