title: Fetal echocardiography during indomethacin treatment.
abstract: Fetal echocardiograms were evaluated in 315 studies performed in 107 fetuses exposed to indomethacin. In the majority of cases, the results of the fetal echocardiography study were within normal limits (74%). The most common abnormal phenomena were tricuspid valve regurgitation (10%), ductal constriction (6%), tricuspid valve regurgitation and ductal constriction (5%), an increased ductal velocity (2%), and other (3%). The difference between the prevalence of ductal constriction in the whole series of studies (11%) compared to the prevalence of ductal constriction per fetus (25%) (p < 0.001) suggests that this phenomenon was only temporary and disappeared when medication was discontinued. The mean gestational age for detection of tricuspid valve regurgitation was 27.7 +/- 2.8 weeks and for ductal constriction, 30.9 +/- 2.1 weeks (t-test, p < 0.01). Trivial tricuspid valve regurgitation was detected at a mean of 26.7 +/- 2.2 weeks and significant tricuspid valve regurgitation at 29.6 +/- 2.3 weeks (t-test, p < 0.01). We conclude that indomethacin treatment is relatively safe for the fetal heart. The most common side-effects are tricuspid valve regurgitation and ductal constriction. Tricuspid valve regurgitation may be detected before ductal constriction, but by itself it is not a contraindication for the continued use of indomethacin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sonography, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital, Lodz.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Respondek
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Weil
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Huhta
mesh_terms: D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004373:Ductus Arteriosus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000517:prevention & control; D006831:Polyhydramnios / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D012449:Safety; D014262:Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014310:Triplets; D014427:Twins; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
chemical_list: D007213:Indomethacin