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Updated: Nov 6, 2025
Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Published on: June 29, 2013
Postnatal persistence of cardiac remodeling and dysfunction in late fetal growth restriction
Fatima Crispi1, Francesca Crovetto2, Mérida Rodriguez-López1,3
1Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine (BCNatal), Center for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBER-ER), Instituto Clínic de Ginecología, Obstetricia y Neonatología (ICGON), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Deu, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Insights
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) impacts 7-10% of pregnancies, leading to heart remodeling in fetuses. This programming increases cardiovascular risk in adulthood, persisting from infancy through adolescence.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics
- Cardiology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Fetal growth restriction (FGR) affects 7-10% of pregnancies.
- FGR exposes fetuses to adverse in utero conditions, impacting development.
- Growth-restricted fetuses exhibit cardiac remodeling and dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review cardiovascular programming in fetal growth restriction.
- To examine postnatal consequences of FGR-induced cardiac changes.
- To discuss strategies for mitigating cardiovascular risk in affected individuals.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of current evidence.
- Analysis of studies on fetal cardiac adaptations.
- Synthesis of research on long-term cardiovascular outcomes.
Main Results:
- Cardiac remodeling (systolic/diastolic dysfunction) is evident in FGR.
- These changes are present in both early severe and late-onset FGR.
- Cardiovascular alterations persist postnatally into adolescence and adulthood.
Conclusions:
- Fetal growth restriction leads to persistent cardiovascular remodeling.
- This programming increases susceptibility to adult cardiovascular disease.
- Interventions may reduce the long-term cardiovascular risk associated with FGR.
Abstract:
Fetal growth restriction is one of the most common obstetric complications, affecting 7-10% of all pregnancies. Affected fetuses are exposed to an adverse environment in utero during a critical time of development and may face long-term health consequences such as increased cardiovascular risk in adulthood. Growth restricted fetuses develop remodeled hearts with signs of systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Cardiac adaptations are more evident in early severe cases, but also present in late onset fetal growth restriction. Cardiovascular remodeling persists into postnatal life, from the neonatal period to adolescence, encompassing an increased susceptibility to adult disease. In this review, we summarize the current evidence on cardiovascular programming associated to fetal growth restriction, its postnatal consequences and potential strategies to reduce their cardiovascular risk.
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