Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026
Murine Fetal Echocardiography
Published on: February 15, 2013
Frequency of echogenic intracardiac focus by race/ethnicity in euploid fetuses
Adam F Borgida1, Christine Maffeo, Elisa A Gianferarri
1Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT 06102, USA. aborgid@harthosp.org
Objective:
To determine the frequency of echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) by race/ethnicity.
Methods:
We performed a retrospective analysis from January 1996 through June 2003. We reviewed all initial sonograms from 14 to 23 weeks gestation in singleton pregnancies. Mothers on admission for delivery provided race/ethnicity.
Results:
There were 8207 ultrasounds and deliveries that met study criteria. There were 4636 (56.5%) Caucasian, 2087 (25.4%) African-American, 1261 (15.4%) Hispanic and 223 (2.7 %) Asian subjects. There were 347 (4.2%) EIF detected. The frequency by race/ethnicity varied significantly (p < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
This large, population-based study showed that fetuses born to Asian mothers were significantly more likely to have an EIF. This racial difference should be taken into account when counseling patients about the potential for Down syndrome.
