title: Fetal echogenic cardiac foci: prospective postnatal electrocardiographic follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine postnatal electrocardiographic abnormalities in fetuses with echogenic cardiac foci (ECF) and no congenital heart disease (CHD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 41 fetuses with ECF and no CHD, were prospectively followed after birth with serial echocardiograms, electrocardiogram (ECG) and 24-h ECG (Holter). The primary outcome was presence of significant abnormalities in the ECG or Holter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ECF diagnosed at a mean (s.d.) of 25.6 (4.6) weeks gestation, were located in the ventricles and in the atria in 39 (95.1%), and 2 fetuses (4.9%), respectively. Postnatal follow-up was for 8.1 (4.6) months (range 1 to 24). None of the infants had any clinically significant abnormality in the ECG or Holter. ECF resolved in 10 infants (24.3%) by 24 months of age. There was no difference between infants with resolved or persistent ECF in various ECG or Holter measurements compared.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fetuses with ECF and no CHD have no significant postnatal electrocardiographic abnormalities, irrespective of ECF persistence or resolution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. mhamdan@tawamhospital.ae
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hamdan
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: El Zoabi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al Shamsi
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Bekdache
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chedid
mesh_terms: D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods