The Tei index for evaluation of fetal myocardial performance in sick fetuses.
OBJECTIVE
The Tei index is a useful, new, noninvasive Doppler index of combined systolic and diastolic function calculated by isovolumic relaxation time plus isovolumic contraction time divided by ejection time. Sick fetuses were evaluated with the Tei index.


METHODS
The study group underwent two-dimensional/Doppler echocardiographic measurement of their Tei index and included 10 monochorionic diamniotic (MD) twin pairs with non-twin to twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), 4 twin pairs with TTTS, 12 fetuses with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), 14 fetuses of diabetic mothers, 3 hydrops fetalis fetuses, 8 fetuses of mothers treated with a tocolytic agent, and 40 normal fetuses (control group).


RESULTS
The Tei indices in the following groups were significantly higher than the control: recipient fetuses in TTTS, large for gestational age (LGA) fetuses of diabetic mothers, and fetuses with hydrops fetalis.


CONCLUSIONS
The Tei index may be a useful tool for the assessment of fetal cardiac status in a variety of sick fetuses. Recipient fetuses in TTTS, LGA fetuses of diabetic mothers, and hydrops fetalis fetuses may have abnormal myocardial performance. The Tei index readily provides early detection of diminished myocardial function, particularly ventricular dysfunction.
Ichizuka
Kiyotake
K
Division of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Showa University Hospital, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8666, Japan. ichizuka@med.showa-u.ac.jp
Matsuoka
Ryu
R
Hasegawa
Junichi
J
Shirato
Nahoko
N
Jimbo
Masatoshi
M
Otsuki
Katsufumi
K
Sekizawa
Akihiko
A
Farina
Antonio
A
Okai
Takashi
T
D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*