Key result
Fetal mechanical AV conduction time correlates with gestational age and heart rate, establishing AV block references.
Why the study?
Can Doppler echocardiography establish reference values for mechanical atrioventricular conduction time to identify first-degree AV block in fetuses?
Observational (n=201)
No
Can Doppler echocardiography establish reference values for mechanical atrioventricular conduction time to identify first-degree AV block in fetuses?
p-value: p=<0.001
Doppler echocardiography can establish gestational age-specific reference values for fetal mechanical AV conduction time, aiding in the early detection of first-degree AV block in high-risk pregnancies.
May aid early detection of fetal AV block in high-risk pregnancies; leaves open prospective validation of reference values.
We performed measurement of mechanical atrioventricular conduction time intervals in human fetuses assessed by Doppler echocardiography and provided reference values. We found that atrioventricular conduction time interval was prolonged with gestational age and decreased with increasing fetal heart rate. No correlation between gestational age and heart rate was found. Using normal limits established by this study, mechanical atrioventricular interval >135 ms in the 20(th) week and/or >145 ms in the 26(th) week of gestation could be suspected of having the first-degree AV block. We compared reference values with fetuses of mothers with anti-SSA Ro/SSB La autoantibodies, being in risk of isolated congenital heart block development. One of 21 fetuses of mothers with positive autoantibodies was affected by prolonged atrioventricular interval according to the established limits, with sinus rhythm after the birth.
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Tomek et al. (2011) conducted an observational in Fetal atrioventricular conduction (n=201). Gestational age and fetal heart rate was evaluated on Mechanical atrioventricular conduction time interval (p=<0.001). Mechanical atrioventricular conduction time in fetuses positively correlated with gestational age (P<0.001) and negatively with heart rate (P<0.001), allowing the establishment of reference values to identify first-degree AV block.
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