Progression of congenital heart disease in the prenatal period

Background: Prenatal echocardiography has shown evidence of prenatal development of congenital heart disease. Prenatal cardiac anatomy, chamber size and function change during gestation, so that the appearance of cardiac structure in abnormal hearts may be different from that which is usually seen p...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Pediatrics international Vol. 41; no. 6; pp. 709 - 715
Main Authors:	Maeno, YASUKI, Himeno, WAKAKO, Fujino, HIROSHI, Sugahara, YOUKO, Mizumoto, JUN FURUI, YOSHIE, Kato, HIROHISA
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Science Pty 01-12-1999
Subjects:	Arrhythmias, Cardiac - diagnostic imaging Arrhythmias, Cardiac - physiopathology congenital heart defect development Disease Progression Echocardiography Female fetal arrhythmia Fetal Diseases - diagnostic imaging Fetal Diseases - physiopathology fetal hydrops Heart Defects, Congenital - diagnostic imaging Heart Defects, Congenital - physiopathology Heart Failure - diagnostic imaging Heart Failure - physiopathology Humans Hydrops Fetalis - diagnostic imaging Hydrops Fetalis - physiopathology Pregnancy prenatal echocardiography Ultrasonography, Prenatal
Online Access:	Get full text
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	Background: Prenatal echocardiography has shown evidence of prenatal development of congenital heart disease. Prenatal cardiac anatomy, chamber size and function change during gestation, so that the appearance of cardiac structure in abnormal hearts may be different from that which is usually seen postnatally. Methods: Published prenatal echocardiographic studies were reviewed and in utero development of congenital heart disease from midtrimester to the early postnatal period is discussed. Results: The growth of the great vessels and ventricles is reduced in fetuses with ventricular outflow obstruction. Valve regurgitation may progress. The foramen ovale and ductus arteriosus have been reported to become restrictive in utero in several settings. Pulmonary vascular obstructive changes may progress prenatally. Fetal arrhythmia (both bradycardia and tachycardia) may develop in utero. Development of congestive heart failure is a very important issue during follow up of fetuses with significant cardiac or extra‐cardiac problems. Some may progress to fetal hydrops and prognosis of the affected fetuses is usually very poor. Conclusions: Correct knowledge of possible development is important for accurate prenatal diagnosis. Information on prenatal progression of the cardiac anomaly is also important to make plans for follow up and perinatal management, to predict outcomes and to counsel family. Furthermore, the benefits of prenatal treatment instead of postnatal treatment should be assessed by the accurate prediction of the progression of the cardiac problem in utero. Further extensive studies using a large number of cases is required to predict progression accurately. In addition, further studies for elucidating the mechanisms of progression is important to provide better outcomes for fetuses with various congenital heart diseases.
Bibliography:	istex:20C56D068C7F1B331D6ACEFC2AE20F43A1B696B0 ArticleID:PED1153 ark:/67375/WNG-3LN043NM-1 ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-3 content type line 23 ObjectType-Review-1
ISSN:	1328-8067 1442-200X
DOI:	10.1046/j.1442-200x.1999.01153.x