Circumferential and longitudinal ventricular strain in the normal human fetus.
BACKGROUND
Echocardiography with speckle tracking is a novel, angle-independent technique for assessing global and regional cardiac function. Normal data on longitudinal strain have been reported for human fetuses. The aim of this study was to define circumferential left ventricular (LV) strain in a normal fetal population.


METHODS
Singleton fetuses between 17 and 42 weeks in gestational age with no adverse maternal health issues or fetal abnormalities were studied. Regional and averaged cardiac strain were measured using syngo Velocity Vector Imaging software.


RESULTS
Data from 81 fetuses were analyzed (mean gestational age, 29.2 ± 5.7 weeks). Overall, average midventricular circumferential strain was 18.7 ± 3.3%, LV longitudinal strain was 15.2 ± 2.7%, and right ventricular longitudinal strain was 16.0 ± 3.3%, with no correlation with gestational age.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study to report normal fetal LV circumferential strain. These data may be useful as a reference for assessing fetal cardiac function. The retrospective study design and relatively low frame rates used in this study were important limitations.
Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital Boston, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Tetsuko
T
Ishii
Doff B
DB
McElhinney
David M
DM
Harrild
Edward N
EN
Marcus
David J
DJ
Sahn
Uyen
U
Truong
Wayne
W
Tworetzky
D016880:Anisotropy; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D055119:Elastic Modulus / Q000502:physiology; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*