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Updated: Sep 8, 2026
Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Published on: June 29, 2013
Evaluation of the Fetal Myocardial Performance Index at Mid-Gestation for Prediction of Fetal Growth Restriction
Şeyma Kılıç1, Nizamettin Bozbay2, Ayşe Ceren Duymuş2
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine, Konya, Turkey.
Objective:
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is associated with increased perinatal morbidity and mortality. The fetal myocardial performance index (MPI) has been proposed as a marker of fetal cardiovascular adaptation for FGR; thus, this study aims to evaluate whether fetal MPI measured at 20-24 gestational weeks predicts subsequent development of FGR.
Materials And Methods:
This prospective cohort study was conducted at Selcuk University (Perinatology and Obstetrics outpatient clinic) between July 1, 2024 and February 1, 2025. Singleton pregnancies (18-45 years) at 20-24 weeks without fetal structural anomalies or maternal chronic disease were enrolled. A standard second-trimester ultrasound was performed, and Doppler parameters (umbilical artery, uterine artery, middle cerebral artery, ductus venosus) and MPI were recorded. Participants were followed until delivery; FGR was defined according to Delphi criteria.
Results:
Of 329 pregnancies, 4 intrauterine fetal deaths were excluded; after excluding pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes, 303 remained for analysis. A total of 47 fetuses developed FGR and 256 served as controls; all preeclampsia cases (n = 7) were accompanied by FGR. Median MPI was 0.40 (0.31-0.54) in the FGR group versus 0.39 (0.21-0.58) in controls, with no significant difference (p = 0.110).
Conclusion:
MPI assessed at 20-24 weeks was not useful for predicting FGR in a low-risk singleton population.
