Ductus arteriosus diameters in fetuses with early- and late-onset fetal growth restriction

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a common pregnancy complication that can be associated with several adverse perinatal outcomes. One of these negative outcomes is ductus arteriosus, especially in preterm babies. In this study, intrauterine heart function and ductus diameter were evaluated in babies with FGR.

Thirty-seven fetuses with FGR were compared with 37 normal-weight fetuses at the same gestational week. In our study, ventricular diameters, aorta, pulmonary artery, ductus arteriosus (DA), aortic arch diameter, and flow traces were examined. In addition, the aorta and aortic isthmus diameters were proportioned to the ductus diameter, and the left ventricular myocardial performance index (MPI) [(ICT + IRT)/ET] was evaluated.

There was no difference in DA diameters between the patient and control groups. The intragroup comparison of the cases with early- and late-onset FGR revealed no statistically significant difference between DA diameters. However, the ratios of the aortic annulus diameter/ductus diameter (AOD/DAD) and aortic isthmus diameter/ductus diameter (AID/DAD) were significantly lower in early-onset FGR because the diameter of the DA was greater. In addition, the mod-MPI values were higher in the patient group.

In our study, although the ductal diameters did not change significantly in the patient group, the ductal diameter was greater in the early-onset intrauterine growth restriction (FGR) group compared with other cardiac measurements. The mod-MPI value, a cardiac function indicator, was higher in fetuses with FGR. These findings may be useful for evaluating postnatal cardiac functions in FGR.