The aetiology and clinical significance of the sinusoidal fetal heart-rate pattern; two case reports
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Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Murine Fetal Echocardiography
Published on: February 15, 2013
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham, U.K.
Two cases are presented in which sinusoidal heart-rate (SHR) patterns were recorded antenatally. In the first case the pattern was associated with severe maternal exertion and prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures. The pattern returned to normal within an hour of maternal recovery. The second case was associated with fetal death due to high-output cardiac failure associated with a large liver haemangioma. A hypothesis is proposed to link the aetiology for this heart-rate pattern which would explain these, and previously reported cases.
Two cases are presented in which sinusoidal heart-rate (SHR) patterns were recorded antenatally. In the first case the pattern was associated with severe maternal exertion and prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures. The pattern returned to normal within an hour of maternal recovery. The second case was associated with fetal death due to high-output cardiac failure associated with a large liver haemangioma. A hypothesis is proposed to link the aetiology for this heart-rate pattern which would explain these, and previously reported cases.
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