Global longitudinal reference ranges for fetal myocardial deformation in the second half of pregnancy

To construct longitudinal fetal reference ranges for global longitudinal myocardial deformation (strain and strain rate) of the left and right ventricles in the second half of pregnancy.

A prospective, observational, longitudinal study of 120 women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies. The participants underwent ultrasonographic scans every 4 weeks from enrolment (18-28 weeks) until delivery. Strain and strain rate were measured at each examination using velocity vector imaging. Changes in strain and strain rate as functions of gestational age (GA) were modeled using Bayesian mixed effects models.

A total of 406 assessments of global longitudinal strain and strain rate were performed for 120 women. Global longitudinal strain and strain rate decreased with increasing GA in the left ventricle. There was, however, no change in strain measurements of the right ventricle over the same gestational time frame. Posterior predictive distributions were used to derive reference centiles for each week of GA.

Assessment of myocardial deformation of the fetal heart is easily performed and may be useful for quantitative assessment of heart function, particularly in fetuses at risk of cardiac dysfunction.