[Echocardiographic diagnosis for ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy in foetus and the pathologically comparative study].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the echocardiographic diagnosis for ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy (NCCM) in foetus and to analyze the pathologic features of NCCM.


METHODS
A total of 9 patients with fetal NCCM were examined by prenatal echocardiography from 2004 to 2013, which was compared with postnatal echocardiography or autopsy to analyze the fetal characteristic of myocardial ultrastructure.


RESULTS
The results of echocardiography displayed an excessive muscle trabecular meshwork and muscle trabecular crypt, and the ventricular myocardium and non-compaction/compaction ratio was ≥2.0. Among the 9 fetuses of NCCM, 6 fetuses were involved in left ventricle, 2 in both left and right ventricles and 1 in right ventricle. Two fetuses were confirmed by postnatal echocardiography, the remaining 7 patients were chosen to terminate their pregnancies, which were confirmed by autopsy later. Muscle biopsies revealed the abnormal myocardial mitochondria, sarcomeres and myocardial fibrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
It is feasible to accurately diagnose NCCM by prenatal echocardiography. Fetal NCCM most often involves the left ventricle, but it can involve the right ventricle or both, too. The myocardial ultrastructure of fetal NCCM possesses certain unique characteristics, such as the low maturation of the mitochondria, sarcomeres and myocardial fibers.
Department of Ultrasonography, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011;Department of Ultrasonography, First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang Hunan 421001, China.
Jia
J
Zhou
Department of Ultrasonography, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
Leiqi
L
Tian
Department of Ultrasonography, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
Qichang
Q
Zhou
Department of Ultrasonography, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
Shi
S
Zeng
Department of Ultrasonography, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
Jiawei
J
Zhou
Department of Ultrasonography, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
Rongsen
R
Zhang
Department of Ultrasonography, First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang Hunan 421001, China.
Hai
H
Tong
D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005333:Fetus; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology