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Updated: May 30, 2026
Murine Fetal Echocardiography
Published on: February 15, 2013
Fetal echogenic cardiac foci: prospective postnatal electrocardiographic follow-up
M A Hamdan1, B A El Zoabi, A Al Shamsi
1Department of Pediatrics, Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. mhamdan@tawamhospital.ae
Objective:
To determine postnatal electrocardiographic abnormalities in fetuses with echogenic cardiac foci (ECF) and no congenital heart disease (CHD).
Study Design:
A total of 41 fetuses with ECF and no CHD, were prospectively followed after birth with serial echocardiograms, electrocardiogram (ECG) and 24-h ECG (Holter). The primary outcome was presence of significant abnormalities in the ECG or Holter.
Result:
ECF diagnosed at a mean (s.d.) of 25.6 (4.6) weeks gestation, were located in the ventricles and in the atria in 39 (95.1%), and 2 fetuses (4.9%), respectively. Postnatal follow-up was for 8.1 (4.6) months (range 1 to 24). None of the infants had any clinically significant abnormality in the ECG or Holter. ECF resolved in 10 infants (24.3%) by 24 months of age. There was no difference between infants with resolved or persistent ECF in various ECG or Holter measurements compared.
Conclusion:
Fetuses with ECF and no CHD have no significant postnatal electrocardiographic abnormalities, irrespective of ECF persistence or resolution.
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