Ductus venosus flow and myocardial hypertrophy in fetuses of diabetic mothers.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that the pulsatility index of ductus venosus (PIDV) is greater in the fetuses of diabetic mothers (FDM) with myocardial hypertrophy (MH) than in the FDM with no MH and in the control fetuses of nondiabetic mothers (FNDM). Comparing the results with mitral and tricuspid diastolic peak flows.

Methods: The cross-sectional study included fetuses with gestational ages ranging from 20 weeks to term, divided into the following 3 groups: 56 FDM with MH (group I), 36 FDM with no MH (group II), and 53 FNDM (group III, control). The Doppler echocardiogram assessed the PIDV through the ratio (systolic velocity - presystolic velocity)/mean velocity. The mitral and tricuspid E and A waves were also assessed.

Results: The mean PIDV in groups I, II, and III were 1.13 +/- 0.64, 0.84 +/- 0.38, and 0.61 +/- 0.17, respectively. Using ANOVA and the Tukey test, a statistically significant difference was found in the 3 groups (P = 0.015 between groups I and II; P < 0.001 between groups I and III; and P = 0.017 between groups II and III). The mean mitral E wave was significantly greater in group I (0.39 +/- 0.12 m/s) than in groups II (0.32 +/- 0.08 m/s) (P = 0.024) and III (0.32 +/- 0.08 m/s) (P = 0.023). The mean tricuspid E wave was also greater in group I (0.43 +/- 0.1 m/s) than in group III (0.35 +/- 0.10 m/s) (P = 0.031).

Conclusion: The PIDV is significantly greater in FDM with MH than in FDM with no MH and in FNDM. Because the PIDV may represent modifications in ventricular compliance, this index may be a more sensitive parameter for assessing fetal diastolic function.