[Echocardiographic diagnosis for ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy in foetus and the pathologically comparative study].

Objective: To evaluate the echocardiographic diagnosis for ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy (NCCM) in foetus and to analyze the pathologic features of NCCM.


Methods: A total of 9 patients with fetal NCCM were examined by prenatal echocardiography from 2004 to 2013, which was compared with postnatal echocardiography or autopsy to analyze the fetal characteristic of myocardial ultrastructure.


Results: The results of echocardiography displayed an excessive muscle trabecular meshwork and muscle trabecular crypt, and the ventricular myocardium and non-compaction/compaction ratio was ≥2.0. Among the 9 fetuses of NCCM, 6 fetuses were involved in left ventricle, 2 in both left and right ventricles and 1 in right ventricle. Two fetuses were confirmed by postnatal echocardiography, the remaining 7 patients were chosen to terminate their pregnancies, which were confirmed by autopsy later. Muscle biopsies revealed the abnormal myocardial mitochondria, sarcomeres and myocardial fibrosis.


Conclusion: It is feasible to accurately diagnose NCCM by prenatal echocardiography. Fetal NCCM most often involves the left ventricle, but it can involve the right ventricle or both, too. The myocardial ultrastructure of fetal NCCM possesses certain unique characteristics, such as the low maturation of the mitochondria, sarcomeres and myocardial fibers.