Isolated, persistent functional tricuspid valve regurgitation in a fetus with normal heart anatomy (and no extracardiac malformation). Case report.
Functional fetal tricuspid valve regurgitation was diagnosed by echocardiography at 27 weeks of gestation as an isolated anomaly with a maximum velocity of the regurgitation jet of 3 m/s. This was also observed at 30, 32 and 35 weeks of gestation and at term. Just after delivery pneumonia was diagnosed in the newborn baby based on clinical symptoms, chest X-ray and laboratory findings. To date persistent fetal tricuspid valve regurgitation has not been described in the literature on normal fetal heart anatomy. Various etiologies and possible pathomechanisms are discussed.
Respondek-Liberska
M
M
Department of Diagnosis and Prophylaxis of Congenital Malformation, Institute Polish Mothers' Memorial Hospital, Łódź, Poland. majkares@krysia.uni.lodz.pl
Krasoń
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D000328:Adult; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D014262:Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / Q000151:congenital* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal