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Right Ventricular-Specific Fetal Cardiac Remodeling Associated with Maternal Thyroid Pathology
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Perinatology, Sincan Training and Research Hospital, Health Sciences University, Ankara, Turkey.
Summary
Maternal thyroid pathology is linked to subtle changes in fetal heart development, specifically affecting the right ventricle (RV). The right ventricular sphericity index may serve as an early indicator of these cardiac alterations.
Area of Science:
- Maternal-fetal medicine
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Maternal thyroid dysfunction is common during pregnancy.
- Potential impacts on fetal development, including cardiac morphometry, are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal thyroid pathology and second-trimester fetal cardiac morphometry.
- Specifically examine left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) sphericity indices.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 350 pregnant women (175 with thyroid pathology, 175 controls).
- Evaluated first-trimester thyroid function and second-trimester fetal cardiac morphometry.
- Used multivariable regression to assess independent associations, adjusting for confounders.
Main Results:
- Maternal thyroid pathology was associated with reduced RV sphericity index and increased interventricular septal thickness.
- No significant difference in LV sphericity index was observed.
- These findings were consistent across hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and euthyroid thyroid autoimmunity subgroups.
- RV sphericity index demonstrated strong discriminative performance.
Conclusions:
- Maternal thyroid disorders are linked to RV-specific fetal cardiac remodeling.
- RV sphericity index may be a valuable imaging marker for fetal cardiac changes in pregnancies with maternal thyroid pathology.
- Further external validation is needed for clinical application.
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