Key result
Two-dimensional echocardiography established Z-score equations and percentiles for right and left ventricular lateral walls and interventricular septum in normal fetuses at 24-34 weeks of gestation.
Why the study?
Z-score equations for fetal echocardiographic measurements are still being established, and myocardial thickness assessment is important to identify risks of myocardial hypertrophy.
Cross-Sectional (n=873)
This study establishes normal percentiles and Z-score equations for fetal myocardial thickness using 2D echocardiography, which may aid in assessing myocardial hypertrophy in fetuses of diabetic mothers.
May aid mid-gestation fetal wall-thickness assessment; leaves open prospective validation before routine clinical use.
Background In the current literature, there is a tendency to describe normal values of echocardiographic measurements by means of the Z‐score. In fetal cardiology, these Z‐score equations are still being established. Measurement of myocardial thickness is an important assessment, especially in fetuses of diabetic mothers, because of the risk of developing myocardial hypertrophy secondary to elevated maternal blood glucose levels. Objective To determine the percentiles and to develop the Z‐score equations of right and left ventricular lateral walls and interventricular septum measurements using two‐dimensional echocardiography in normal fetuses between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation. Methods This is a prospective cross‐sectional study that was performed in single fetuses with normal heart from nondiabetic pregnant women. Measurements of the lateral walls of the right and left ventricles and the interventricular septum were made. Results Eight hundred and seventy three pregnant women were included. We determined the percentiles of the measurements for each gestational age. The Z‐score equation was developed for each of the measurements: right ventricular lateral wall measurement [RVLW = x−(−1 + 0.109 * GA)/0.4], left ventricle lateral wall measurement [LVLW = x−(−1.366 + 0.12 * GA)/0.43], and interventricular septum, both at the four‐chamber view [IVS 4ch = (x−(−1.113 + 0.107 * GA)/0.4] and at the left ventricular outflow tract plane [IVS LVOT = (x−(−0.581 + 0.084 * GA)/0.35]. Conclusion The present study allowed the demonstration of the percentiles and the Z‐score equations for each of the measurements studied.
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Rocha et al. (2020) conducted a cross-sectional in Normal fetuses (n=873). Two-dimensional echocardiography was evaluated on Z-score equations and percentiles of right and left ventricular lateral walls and interventricular septum measurements. Two-dimensional echocardiography established Z-score equations and percentiles for right and left ventricular lateral walls and interventricular septum in normal fetuses at 24-34 weeks of gestation.
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