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Published on: June 29, 2013
Longitudinal Reference Ranges for Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion and Mitral Annular Plane Systolic
Alison Lee-Tannock1,2, Karen Hay3, Alex Gooi2,4
1Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to construct reference ranges for fetal tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) using conventional M-mode ultrasound (US) in the second half of pregnancy.
Methods:
Participants underwent US scans every 4 weeks from 18 weeks' gestation until delivery. The TAPSE and MAPSE were measured by conventional M-mode US at each examination. The relationships between TAPSE and MAPSE and gestational age and estimated fetal weight were modeled by Bayesian mixed effects linear regression.
Results:
Positive linear relationships were observed between both MAPSE and TAPSE and gestational age and estimated fetal weight. Reference centiles for TAPSE and MAPSE were developed.
Conclusions:
This simple technique is a useful tool for assessing cardiac function and could be used for quantitative assessments of fetal cardiac function, particularly in high-risk pregnancies such as those complicated by maternal diabetes.
