title: Intracardiac echogenic foci have no hemodynamic significance in the fetus.
abstract: Intracardiac echogenic foci (ECFs), probably representing microcalcifications of the papillary muscles, are a common finding in fetal ultrasonic screening examinations. Their significance is unclear, and their value as markers for chromosomal anomalies is debatable. It also is unknown whether ECFs predict abnormal cardiac performance. This prospective study analyzed and compared the systolic and diastolic properties of the heart in 28 fetuses with ECFs and 70 fetuses without ECFs using both conventional and novel myocardial deformation methods. The findings suggest that left-sided ECFs do not predict depressed left- or right-side systolic or diastolic properties in the fetus. A longitudinal study that would follow ECF fetuses into their childhood is warranted to confirm the findings of this study.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Pediatric Department, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Kiryat Hadassah, P.O. Box 12000, 91120 Jerusalem, Israel. zperles@hadassah.org.il
authors.forename: Zeev
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Perles
authors.forename: Amiram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nir
authors.forename: Sagui
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gavri
authors.forename: Julius
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Golender
authors.forename: Azaria J J T
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rein
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal