title: The intraventricular conduction time of fetal heart in pregnancies complicated by rhesus haemolytic disease.
abstract: The duration and shape of the fetal QRS complex were studied in 88 pregnancies complicated by rhesus isoimmunization. A clear correlation between ventricular depolarization time and haemoglobin levels at birth was observed. A single QRS value greater than 4 SD above the normal mean value, or a tendency to rapid increase was very suggestive of a bad prognosis, while a QRS duration below +4 SD or declining in sequential determinations reflects a temporary compensation of fetal conditions. From the QRS complex analysis a clear indication appeared of the constant and early involvement of the heart in terms of myocardial hypertrophy and/or cardiac enlargement. The sensitivity of QRS to anaemia and the feasibility of continuous non-invasive monitoring might allow, with the determination of bilirubin concentration in amniotic fluid, improvement in the management of rhesus haemolytic disease.
mesh_terms: D001805:Blood Transfusion, Intrauterine; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004899:Erythroblastosis, Fetal / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000032:analysis; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins