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Updated: Jan 16, 2026
Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Published on: June 29, 2013
Myocardial Structural and Functional Assessment in Fetal Growth Restriction Infants-A Cohort Study
Vidya Nayak1, Ashwal A Jayaram2, Leslie Edward Lewis3
1Department of Cardiovascular Technology, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
Insights
Neonates with fetal growth restriction (FGR) show persistent cardiac dysfunction and reduced myocardial strain, even with catch-up growth. Long-term monitoring is crucial for these infants to detect subclinical impairments.
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Fetal Medicine
Background:
- Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is associated with adverse neonatal outcomes.
- Cardiac function in FGR neonates requires further investigation.
- Understanding long-term cardiac implications is essential for FGR management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess cardiac changes and catch-up growth in neonates with FGR.
- To evaluate myocardial function and deformation in FGR neonates.
- To compare cardiac parameters between FGR and adequate-for-gestational age (AGA) neonates.
Main Methods:
- Biophysical profiling and echocardiography, including myocardial deformation analysis, were performed on 77 FGR and 73 AGA neonates within the first week of life.
- Follow-up assessments were conducted at six months.
- Left ventricular global longitudinal strain and early diastolic strain rate were key metrics.
Main Results:
- FGR neonates exhibited smaller cardiac dimensions and reduced myocardial function compared to AGA neonates.
- Significantly lower left ventricular global longitudinal strain and early diastolic strain rate were observed in FGR infants.
- Cardiac abnormalities persisted at six months, with ongoing subclinical myocardial dysfunction despite catch-up growth.
Conclusions:
- Fetal growth restriction leads to persistent subclinical myocardial dysfunction in neonates.
- Catch-up growth does not fully restore cardiac function in FGR infants.
- Long-term cardiac monitoring is vital for FGR neonates to identify subtle functional impairments.
Abstract:
In this study, cardiac changes and catch-up growth were assessed in neonates with fetal growth restriction (FGR) over six months. A total of 77 FGR and 73 adequate-for-gestational age (AGA) neonates underwent biophysical profiling and echocardiographic assessment, including myocardial deformation analysis, within the first week of life. Follow-up evaluations were conducted at six months. Findings revealed that FGR neonates had smaller cardiac dimensions and reduced myocardial function, with significantly lower left ventricular global longitudinal strain and early diastolic strain rate, despite preserved ejection fraction. These abnormalities persisted at six months, even as biophysical profiles approached normal. However, the improvement in myocardial deformation was still lower than in AGA neonates, indicating ongoing subclinical myocardial dysfunction. The study highlights that while FGR infants may show catch-up growth, underlying cardiac functional differences remain, emphasizing the importance of long-term cardiac monitoring in this population to detect subtle but significant functional impairments.
