[Assessment of cardiac function in fetuses with intrauterine growth retardation using the Tei Index].

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to evaluate cardiac function in foetuses with IUGR, using the Tei Index.

Material And Methods: Prenatal echocardiographic examination was performed in 64 foetuses with intrauterine growth retardation between 25-27, 30-32, and 34-37 weeks of gestation. The control group included 30 healthy foetuses. Flow velocity waveforms of mitral and tricuspid valve and flow velocity waveforms of the aortic and pulmonic valves were obtained. The Tei Index for left and right ventricle was calculated. The heart rate was measured in all foetuses.

Results: The Tei Index for left ventricle in foetuses with intrauterine growth retardation was significantly higher than in healthy foetuses (25-27 hbd - 0.6 vs. 0.58; p<0.05: 30-32 hbd -0.59 vs. 0.52; p<0.05: 34-36 hbd - 0.58 vs. 0.48; p<0.001). The Tei Index for right ventricle was also significantly higher in foetuses with intrauterine growth retardation than in the control group. The Tei Index decreased gradually with advancing gestational age and is independent of heart rate.

Conclusions: l. Foetuses with intrauterine growth retardation have abnormal cardiac function in later part of gestation. 2. The Tei Index may be applied to evaluate cardiac function in foetuses.