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Causes and consequences of 93 fetuses with cardiomegaly in a tertiary center in Thailand

  • Materno-fetal Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

To assess etiology, perinatal mortality and associated factors of fetal cardiomegaly (FC).

Methods

A retrospective study of fetuses with cardiomegaly was conducted. Demographic data, ultrasonographic findings, and outcomes were collected and analyzed.

Results

Ninety-three fetuses were analyzed. The causes of FC were cardiac causes 49.5%, Bart’s hemoglobinopathies 28%, and non-Bart’s anemia 15%. Ascites, pericardial effusion, and hydrops were more prevalent in fetuses with anemia than those with cardiac abnormalities. The overall perinatal mortality was 69.9%. Although all Bart’s hydrops died, perinatal mortality of non-Bart’s anemia, and structural cardiac defect were 57.1 and 69.7%, respectively. Excluding Bart’s anemia, receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that cardiothoracic ratio of ≥0.58 best predictive for perinatal mortality. Earlier gestational age at diagnosis, skin edema, and chromosomal abnormality were associated with higher mortality.

Conclusions

Majority causes of FC were cardiac and anemic in origin. It carried high-perinatal mortality depending on the causes.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Professor Pornchai Sithisarankul, MD, MPH, DrPH. Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Associate Professor Apichai Khongphatthanayothin, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Professor Dr. Henry Wilde for their kind assistance in editing the manuscript and Dr. Mana Taweevisit, MD, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University for his pathological reports.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Rama IV Road, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Piyawadee Wuttikonsammakit, Boonchai Uerpairojkit & Somchai Tanawattanacharoen

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  1. Piyawadee Wuttikonsammakit
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  2. Boonchai Uerpairojkit
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  3. Somchai Tanawattanacharoen
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Correspondence to Boonchai Uerpairojkit.

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Wuttikonsammakit, P., Uerpairojkit, B. & Tanawattanacharoen, S. Causes and consequences of 93 fetuses with cardiomegaly in a tertiary center in Thailand. Arch Gynecol Obstet 283, 701–706 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-010-1426-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-010-1426-0

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