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Updated: Jan 21, 2026

Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Published on: June 29, 2013
Assessment of the Cardiac Function in Intrauterine Growth-Restricted Fetuses and Appropriate for Gestational Age
Bhoomika Sharma1, Asha Verma2, Chandrabhan Meena2
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zenana Hospital, S.M.S. Medical College Jaipur, 5/203 Swami Vivekanand Nagar, Kota, Rajasthan India.
Aim:
Aim of the study is to evaluate the myocardial performance index in intrauterine growth restricted fetuses and compare this index with appropriate for gestational age fetuses.
Materials & Methods:
A prospective study was conducted in S.M.S Medical College Jaipur, involving 72 singleton fetuses ≥ 28 weeks of gestation divided into two groups: 36 intrauterine growth restricted fetuses (IUGR) and 36 appropriate for gestational age fetuses (AGA). Myocardial performance index was obtained by fetal echocardiography.
Results:
The mean myocardial performance index in the IUGR fetuses and AGA fetuses was statistically significant and that was 0.62 ± 0.02 and 0.45 ± 0.01, respectively; (p value: < 0.0001). These findings suggest that IUGR induces primary cardiac changes, which could explain the increased predisposition to cardiovascular disease in adult life. This study concluded that Fetal echocardiographic parameters (MPI) identify a high risk group within the IUGR fetuses, which could be targeted for early screening of blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors, as well as for promoting a healthy diet and physical exercise.
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