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Updated: Jul 5, 2026

A Rat Model of Mild Intrauterine Hypoperfusion with Microcoil Stenosis
Published on: January 7, 2018
Sequence of cardiovascular changes in IUGR in pregnancies with and without preeclampsia
Giancarlo Mari1, Farhan Hanif, Michael Kruger
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. giancarlomari@hotmail.com
Objective:
The aim of this study was to determine the cardiovascular changes sequence in intrauterine-growth-restricted (IUGR) fetuses using Doppler ultrasound.
Methods:
Sequential Doppler evaluations were carried out in 29 severe IUGR fetuses in pregnancies without maternal medical complications (group A) and in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia (group B) delivered at < ort = 32 weeks. Nine fetal vessels and two cardiac valves were studied.
Results:
One hundred and forty three Doppler studies were performed (median: five studies; range 3-9 per patient). There were 19 fetuses in the preeclamptic group and 10 fetuses in the second group. In group A IUGR fetuses, a progressive change was observed in the parameters studied more often than in group B IUGR fetuses (P < 0.05). In six cases, an abnormal tricuspid valve (TV) followed by an abnormal mitral valve (MV) Doppler was recorded prior to the occurrence of the intrauterine-fetal demise.
Conclusions:
Our data indicate that (1) in patients without preeclampsia a series of cardiovascular changes almost always occurs in severe IUGR fetuses; (2) the changes preceding intrauterine demise are right cardiac failure followed by left cardiac failure; (3) in patients with preeclampsia, the sequential Doppler changes are unpredictable and are seen in a few patients only.
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