title: Fetal brain sonography and fetal heart rate patterns in the preterm fetus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to study whether peri- and intraventricular echodensities in the brain of fetuses at risk for preterm birth are associated with changes in fetal heart rate (FHR) parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty preterm fetuses with peri- and intraventricular echodensities detected by transvaginal ultrasonography were matched with 20 fetuses without echodensities for gestational age, growth parameters, clinical disease, and maternal medication. Baseline FHR, long- and short-term variability, and the presence of accelerations and decelerations were analyzed with a computerized system and compared with the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test. Both cases and controls were compared with a normal population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistical differences in FHR parameters were found between cases with and controls without peri- and intraventricular echodensities. Both cases and controls had lower long- and short-term variabilities than the normal population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No association between the presence of peri- and intraventricular echodensities and specific FHR changes was demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. fleur.rosier@inter.nl.net
authors.forename: Fleur M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Rosier-van Dunné
authors.forename: Herman P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: van Geijn
authors.forename: Hein J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Odendaal
authors.forename: Gerda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van Wezel-Meijler
authors.forename: Johanna I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: De Vries
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology*; D004453:Echoencephalography; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal