AJP Rep 2016; 06(02): e232-e238
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1584241
Case Report
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Are There Head Volume Alterations at 11 to 14 Weeks in Fetuses with Congenital Heart Defects? A First Trimester Case Series

Reem S. Abu-Rustum
1   Center for Advanced Fetal Care, Tripoli, Lebanon
,
M. Fouad Ziade
2   Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
,
Sameer E. Abu-Rustum
3   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nini Hospital, Tripoli, Lebanon
,
Linda S. Daou
4   Department of Pediatric Cardiology, St. Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
› Institutsangaben
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Publikationsverlauf

05. März 2016

11. April 2016

Publikationsdatum:
14. Juni 2016 (online)

Abstract

Objective This study aims to assess head volume (HV) alterations at 11 to 14 weeks in fetuses with congenital heart defects (CHD).

Methods A retrospective case–control study on 100 normal and 26 CHD fetuses was conducted. The fetuses had a first trimester scan with volume data sets stored from which HV was calculated. The mean HV and HV as a function of crown–rump length (CRL) in normal fetuses were compared with established normograms. Mean HV, HV as a function of CRL, and HV/CRL were compared between normal and CHD fetuses. Nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis H test was used with p < 0.05 considered significant.

Results Overall, 83 normal and 19 CHD fetuses were included. The mean HV and HV as a function of CRL in the normal fetuses were comparable to what has been established (p = 0.451 and 0.801, respectively). The mean HV was statistically smaller in fetuses with CHD, particularly those with hypoplastic left heart (HLH): 10.7 mL in HLH versus 13.0 mL in normal fetuses (p = 0.043). The HV/CRL was statistically smaller in fetuses with CHD (p = 0.01).

Conclusion Despite the small sample size, our case series suggests that alterations in HV may potentially be apparent as early as 11 to 14 weeks in CHD fetuses, particularly those with HLH. Larger prospective studies are needed to validate our findings.

Note

This work was presented orally at the AIUM Annual Convention; March 17–21, 2016; New York, NY.


 
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