Tissue Doppler imaging in the evaluation of cardiac function in fetuses with intrauterine growth retardation

Abstract

To evaluate the cardiac function of fetuses with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) by using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). Peak velocity in early (E) and late (A) diastole were measured by pulsed-wave Doppler, and the peak annular velocities in systole (S'), early (E') and late (A') diastole were measured by TDI. Isovolumetric contraction time (ICT), ejection time (ET), isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT) were recorded. The ratios E/A, E'/A', E/E', E/(E'× S') and myocardial performance index (MPI) were calculated. Compared with the control group, E', A', S' and E'/A' were obviously lower (P<0.05) while E/E', E/(E'× S') and MPI were obviously higher (P<0.05) in the IUGR group; although E, A and E/A were slight lower in the IUGR group, the change was not significant (P>0.05). Both diastolic and systolic heart function were jeopardized in IUGR fetuses.