Growth and function of human fetal heart in normal, hypertensive and diabetic pregnancy

Fetal cardiac left and right ventricular dimensions and contractility were measured by echocardiography in late pregnancy in 51 normal, 26 hypertensive and 18 diabetic pregnancies. In relationship with the fetal size, both of the ventricular dimensions, the contractility and left ventricular output were decreased in diabetic cases. In hypertensive pregnancy the relative size of the right ventricle was increased and its contractility decreased, but the function of the left ventricle was no different from normal. These findings may reflect biochemical changes in diabetic myocardium and increased peripheral fetal and placental resistance in hypertensive pregnancy.