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Updated: Feb 19, 2026
Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Published on: June 29, 2013
Cardiovascular adaptation to extrauterine life after intrauterine growth restriction
Luciana Rodriguez-Guerineau1, Miriam Perez-Cruz2, María D Gomez Roig2
11Pediatric Cardiology Department,Hospital Sant Joan de Déu,Universitat de Barcelona,Barcelona,Spain.
Insights
Newborns with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) exhibit altered heart shape and function post-birth. These cardiac changes, particularly in the right heart, suggest impaired adaptation to life outside the womb.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal cardiology
- Fetal development
- Pediatric cardiovascular research
Background:
- Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) can lead to persistent fetal heart adaptations postnatally.
- Limited data exists on the early circulatory adaptation of IUGR neonates to extrauterine life.
- Understanding these changes is crucial for managing high-risk newborns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess cardiac morphometry and function in newborns with late-onset IUGR.
- To test the hypothesis that IUGR causes cardiac shape and functional changes at birth.
- To investigate the impact of IUGR on the neonate's adaptation to extrauterine circulation.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive echocardiographic study was conducted.
- 25 neonates diagnosed with intrauterine growth restriction were evaluated.
- 25 adequate-for-gestational-age neonates served as the control group.
Main Results:
- Neonates with IUGR displayed more globular ventricles and reduced longitudinal tricuspid annular motion.
- Higher left stroke volume was observed in the IUGR group, with no significant heart rate difference.
- Subclinical diastolic dysfunction and impaired right heart function (higher Tei index) were identified in IUGR neonates.
Conclusions:
- Neonates with a history of IUGR exhibit cardiac remodeling with signs of systolic and diastolic dysfunction.
- The right heart demonstrated a tendency towards worse cardiac function in the IUGR group.
- IUGR neonates adapted to extrauterine life with altered heart morphology and hemodynamics compared to controls.
Abstract:
Introduction The adaptive changes of the foetal heart in intrauterine growth restriction can persist postnatally. Data regarding its consequences for early circulatory adaptation to extrauterine life are scarce. The aim of this study was to assess cardiac morphometry and function in newborns with late-onset intrauterine growth restriction to test the hypothesis that intrauterine growth restriction causes cardiac shape and functional changes at birth.
Methods:
A comprehensive echocardiographic study was performed in 25 neonates with intrauterine growth restriction and 25 adequate-for-gestational-age neonates.
Results:
Compared with controls, neonates with intrauterine growth restriction had more globular ventricles, lower longitudinal tricuspid annular motion, and higher left stroke volume without differences in the heart rate. Neonates with intrauterine growth restriction also showed subclinical signs of diastolic dysfunction in the tissue Doppler imaging with lower values of early (e') diastolic annular peak velocities in the septal annulus. Finally, the Tei index in the tricuspid annulus was higher in the intrauterine growth restriction group.
Conclusion:
Neonates with history of intrauterine growth restriction showed cardiac remodelling and signs of systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Overall, there was a significant tendency to worse cardiac function results in the right heart. The adaptation to extrauterine life occurred with more globular hearts, higher stroke volumes but a similar heart rate compared to adequate-for-gestational-age neonates.
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