Cortical development in fetuses with congenital heart defects using an automated brain-age prediction algorithm

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Fetal Development
• Cardiology

Background:

• Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are linked to neurodevelopmental delays.
• Altered cerebral oxygen perfusion in fetuses with CHDs may impede cortical maturation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare fetal brain age between CHD cases and controls in the second and third trimesters.
• To investigate the impact of CHDs on fetal cortical maturation using ultrasound.

Main Methods:

• Utilized neurosonography and 3D fetal brain volumes from 90 isolated severe CHD cases and 75 controls.
• Employed automated age prediction software to assess cortical maturation from 20 weeks gestation.
• Analyzed 477 brain volumes (199 CHD, 278 controls) between 19-33 weeks gestation.

Main Results:

• Fetal brain age, predicted by cortical maturation, was found to be 3 days delayed in the CHD group compared to controls (P = .002).
• This delay in maturation was observed consistently throughout the second and third trimesters.
• No significant progression of the delay was noted during the third trimester.

Conclusions:

• Fetuses with isolated congenital heart defects exhibit a minor delay in cortical maturation compared to healthy controls.
• The clinical significance of this subtle delay requires further investigation.
• The observed delay in brain maturation remains consistent throughout gestation.