Changing spectrum and outcome of 705 fetal congenital heart disease cases: 12 years, experience in a third-level center.

Introduction: Congenital heart diseases are the most common prenatal and postnatal malformations. Nowadays, fetal echocardiography is a widely practiced technique; however, the impact of prenatal diagnosis on prognosis of the newborns affected by congenital heart disease remains uncertain.

Objective: To assess the outcome and the changes in the spectrum of prenatally detected congenital heart disease in our tertiary care centre in 12 years of activity (1995-2006).

Two-dimensional strain to assess regional left and right ventricular longitudinal function in 100 normal foetuses.

Aims: Previous reports have demonstrated that myocardial velocities are not sufficiently sensitive in foetal heart studies. Strain (S) imaging is a new non-invasive ultrasonic technique able to quantify regional myocardial deformation properties. Strain imaging has a superior sensitivity than myocardial velocity for non-invasive assessment of ventricular function.

Severe, early onset hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in a family with LEOPARD syndrome.

Objective: Leopard syndrome is an acronym (multiple Lentigines, electrocardiographic conduction abnormalities, ocular hypertelorism, pulmonic stenosis, abnormal genitalia, retardation of growth, and sensorineural deafness) describing an autosomal dominant disease due to mutations in the raS-MapK pathway.

Methods: Here, we describe a family (mother and daughter) with clinical and molecular diagnosis of Leopard syndrome 1 and HCM, and we report the prenatal diagnosis of HCM in a fetus at risk for Leopard syndrome.

Results: An echocardiography was conducted showing a significant hypertrophy of both ventricles (left and right ventricular wall thickness 9mm and 3 mm).

The challenge of fetal dysrhythmias: echocardiographic diagnosis and clinical management.

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the management of fetal cardiac dysrhythmias based on prior identification of the underlying electrophysiological mechanism.

Methods: We studied 36 consecutive fetuses with cardiac dysrhythmia. Rhythm diagnosis was based on M-mode, pulsed wave Doppler and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI).

Prenatal diagnosis of a partial 6q trisomy: a case report.

Objective: To present a case of partial 6q trisomy diagnosed prenatally.

Method: A 28-year-old woman underwent genetic amniocentesis at 23 weeks of gestation on the detection of an enlarged nuchal fold (8.5 mm), which was the only clinical abnormality on routine ultrasound examination.

Quantification of regional left and right ventricular longitudinal function in 75 normal fetuses using ultrasound-based strain rate and strain imaging.

Previous reports have demonstrated that myocardial velocities are not sufficiently sensitive in fetal heart studies. Strain (S) and strain rate (SR) imaging is a new noninvasive ultrasonic technique able to quantify regional myocardial deformation properties. SR imaging has a superior sensitivity than myocardial velocity for noninvasive assessment of ventricular function, but this technique has not been used in the fetal heart.