title: [Assessment of cardiac function in fetuses with intrauterine growth retardation using the Tei Index].
abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate cardiac function in foetuses with IUGR, using the Tei Index.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prenatal echocardiographic examination was performed in 64 foetuses with intrauterine growth retardation between 25-27, 30-32, and 34-37 weeks of gestation. The control group included 30 healthy foetuses. Flow velocity waveforms of mitral and tricuspid valve and flow velocity waveforms of the aortic and pulmonic valves were obtained. The Tei Index for left and right ventricle was calculated. The heart rate was measured in all foetuses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Tei Index for left ventricle in foetuses with intrauterine growth retardation was significantly higher than in healthy foetuses (25-27 hbd - 0.6 vs. 0.58; p<0.05: 30-32 hbd -0.59 vs. 0.52; p<0.05: 34-36 hbd - 0.58 vs. 0.48; p<0.001). The Tei Index for right ventricle was also significantly higher in foetuses with intrauterine growth retardation than in the control group. The Tei Index decreased gradually with advancing gestational age and is independent of heart rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  l. Foetuses with intrauterine growth retardation have abnormal cardiac function in later part of gestation. 2. The Tei Index may be applied to evaluate cardiac function in foetuses.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Kardiologii Dzieciecej Katedry Pediatrii, Uniwersytet Medyczny, ul. Sporna 36/50, 91-738 Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Niewiadomska-Jarosik
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lipecka-Kidawska
authors.forename: Urszula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kowalska-Koprek
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kedziora
authors.forename: Dominika
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tomecka
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Krajewski
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stańczyk
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001810:Blood Volume; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006801:Humans; D011044:Poland; D011247:Pregnancy; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal