Rima Bader
King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia
Title: Do prenatal intracardiac echogenic foci affect postnatal cardiac function?
Biography
Biography: Rima Bader
Abstract
Introduction: Echogenic foci in the prenatal heart is uncommon . Objective: To determine whether prenatally diagnosed intracardiac echogenic foci are associated with neonatal cardiac dysfunction and persistence. Methods: Fetuses in which intracardiac echogenic foci were shown on prenatal sonography at 1 perinatal center from (September 2009 to December 2013) underwent postnatal echocardiography at ages 1 month to1 year.A single pediatric cardiologist assessed cardiac function by measuring the left ventricular shortening fraction and myocardial performance index. Presence of tricuspid valve regurgitation was sought. Results. Prenatally 60 fetuses had intracardiac echogenic foci, mean age ± SD at diagnosis (23 ± 3 .1). 53 (88.3 %) had left ventricular intracardiac echogenic foci(LVIEF), and 7 ( 11.6 %) had right ventricular intracardiac echogenic foci(RVIEF).12 preganant ladies were lost for follow up (2 fetuses of 7 (28,5%) with RVIEF., and 10 fetuses of 53 (18.8%) withLVIEF. Post natally, infants,32 (66.6 %) males and 16 ( 33.3%) females were examined. at a mean age ± SD of 7.4±3.1 months. Prenatally, all infants had a normal left ventricular shortening fraction.. The overall mean left ventricular myocardial performance index (reference value, 0.36 ± 0.06), was normal for both infants with LVIEF (0.32 ± 0.01) and those with RVIEF (0,33 ± 0.05).Trace tricuspid valve regurgitation were noted in 15 (31%) of the infants. LVIEF persisted in 15infants ( 34.8%), RVIEF persisted in 1 infant ( 20 %). Conclusions. Prenatally diagnosed intracardiac echogenic foci can be persistent but is not assosciated with myocardial dysfunction in the first year of life.