Can abnormal ductus venosus peak velocity index for veins in normal fetuses predict failure of functional closure of the foramen ovale in the postnatal period?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether ductus venosus (DV) wave velocities and/or DV peak velocity index for veins (DV-PVIV) can predict failure of functional closure of the foramen ovale in the postnatal period.


METHODS
Fetal echocardiography was performed in 455 healthy women with uneventful pregnancies between the 20-24th gestational weeks. DV blood flow and DV-PVIV data were collected prospectively. Echocardiography was repeated in healthy subjects on the 30th postnatal day. Four hundred patients met the study criteria. Newborns with clearly visible foraminal flaps, interatrial septal defects smaller than 5 mm and right-to-left shunting through the defect were accepted as patent foramen ovale (PFO) (n=91). Newborns without PFO (n=309) comprised the control group.


RESULTS
A statistically significant difference was detected between the groups with and without PFO in terms of mean DV-PVIV values, DV-D and DV-a wave velocities (p<0.05 for all). ROC analysis showed that increased DV-PVIV values were related to and predictive of PFO (AUC=0.75; p<0.001) and that a threshold value of 0.62, had a sensitivity of 86.8% (95% CI 78.1-93.0%) and a specificity of 51.7% (95% CI 46.1-57.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
DV-PVIV values above 0.62 at the time of fetal echocardiographic examination can predict failure of functional closure of the foramen ovale in the postnatal period.
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Dr.Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.
Yilmaz
Y
Yozgat
Department of Perinatology, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey. eftal77@yahoo.com.
Muhittin Eftal
ME
Avci
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Gulhane Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
Ayhan
A
Kilic
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Dr.Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.
Rahmi
R
Ozdemir
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Dr.Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.
Mustafa
M
Demirol
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Dr.Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.
Utku
U
Karaarslan
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Dr.Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.
Timur
T
Mese
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Dr.Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.
Nurettin
N
Unal
D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D054092:Foramen Ovale, Patent / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*