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Aortic Elasticity and Cardiac Function in Fetuses With Aortic Coarctation.
Dan Zhou1, Ran Xu2, Jiawei Zhou1
1Department of Ultrasound Diagnosis, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine
|June 3, 2022
Summary
Fetal aortic strain is reduced in coarctation of the aorta (CoA). This impaired elasticity correlates with cardiac function, suggesting early in-utero development of aortic wall abnormalities in fetuses with CoA.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Fetal Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a congenital heart defect affecting the aorta.
- Assessing aortic elasticity in fetuses with CoA is crucial for understanding disease progression.
- M-mode and Doppler echocardiography are standard tools for fetal cardiac assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the elasticity of the ascending aorta (AAo) in fetuses with CoA compared to normal fetuses.
- To investigate the correlation between aortic strain and cardiac function in fetuses with CoA.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 16 fetuses with CoA and 48 controls.
- M-mode echocardiography to measure AAo diameters (Dmin, Dmax) and calculate aortic strain.
- Doppler echocardiography to assess cardiac function parameters.
Main Results:
- Fetal AAo strain was significantly lower in the CoA group (18.12%) than in controls (25.22%).
- Fetuses with CoA exhibited higher cardiac output and altered left ventricular function (decreased E', S'; increased E/E').
- Aortic strain in CoA fetuses correlated with left ventricular E/E' and S'.
Conclusions:
- Ascending aorta strain is significantly decreased in fetuses with CoA during middle-late gestation.
- Impaired aortic strain is linked to left ventricle function abnormalities in fetuses with CoA.
- These findings suggest that intrinsic aortic wall abnormalities in CoA may develop early in fetal development.
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