Evaluation of the fetal myocardial performance ındex and Epicardial fat thickness in pregnant women with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes

Objective To assess the epicardial fat thickness (EFT) and modified myocardial performance index (Mod-MPI) measurements in fetuses at pregnant women with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (pPROM) and compare them to healthy pregnant women’s fetuses.Methods Forty patients who presented to our clinic at 24–36 + 6 gestational weeks and were diagnosed with pPROM were included in the patient group. During the same period, 40 healthy pregnant women at similar gestational weeks were randomly selected as the control group.Results The pPROM and control groups were similar in terms of demographics. In the pPROM group, EFT, Mod-MPI, and isovolumetric contraction(ICT) and relaxation times(IRT) were significantly higher and ejection time (ET) was significantly lower compared to the control group. In addition, Mod-MPI z-scores, IRT z-scores, ICT z-scores were significantly higher and ET z-scores was significantly lower in the pPROM. According to the ROC analysis, the optimal cutoff value of EFT was calculated as 1.55 mm, with 68% sensitivity and 71% specificity (AUC: 0.718, 95% CI: 0.550–0.786, p = .018) for predicting NICU requirement and the optimal cutoff value of EFT was calculated as 1.55 mm with 72% sensitivity and 73% specificity (AUC: 0.726, 95% CI: 0.556–0.896, p = .015) for predicting medication use in the pPROM group.Conclusion This study revealed differences in the EFT and Mod-MPI measurements of the fetuses of pregnant women with pPROM. Considering that EFT is an important energy source for the myocardium, as well as an endocrine structure in which inflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers are secreted, it is recommended to be evaluated in inflammatory conditions such as pPROM.