Doppler Echocardiographic Evaluation of Ventricular Diastolic Filling in Fetuses with Ductal Constriction

Kenji Harada, Mary J. Rice, Robert W. McDonald, Takahiro Shiota, Masahiro Ishii, Mark D. Reller, David J. Sahn

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

To assess ventricular diastolic filling in fetuses with constriction of ductus arteriosus, 43 fetuses of pregnant women receiving indomethacin (100 to 150 mg/day) were examined with Doppler echocardiography. Ductal constriction occurred in 21 fetuses, defined as maximal systolic velocity >140 cm/s and diastolic flow velocity >30 cm/s. The variables measured to assess diastolic function were peak velocity during early diastole (peak E wave), peak velocity during atrial contraction (peak A wave), and the velocity ratio (peak E/A ratio); these were compared to maximal ductal flow velocity during systole and diastole. The mitral peak E wave, peak A wave, and peak E/A ratio in fetuses with ductal constriction showed no significant difference from those in fetuses without ductal constriction. In fetuses with ductal constriction, the tricuspid A wave increased significantly without changes in the peak E wave (57 ± 9 vs 50 ± 6 cm/s, p <0.01) and the peak E/A ratio was significantly lower than in fetuses without ductal constriction (0.57 ± 0.10 vs 0.65 ± 0.08, p <0.05). In 9 fetuses with ductal constriction, we compared the Doppler tricuspid E wave, A wave, and E/A ratio during indomethacin administration with those after withdrawal of the drug for a mean of 24 hours. Both systolic and diastolic ductal flow velocities in the fetuses returned to normal range after discontinuation of indomethacin. The tricuspid peak A wave decreased (59 ± 9 vs 50 ± 11 cm/s) and the E/ A ratio increased significantly (0.56 ± 0.07 vs 0.69 ± 0.07) (both p <0.01) without any significant change in peak E wave after discontinuation of indomethacin. This study suggests that ductal constriction influences Doppler patterns of right ventricular diastolic filling. These changes could be related to the increased afterload presented to the right ventricle which might affect diastolic function.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)442-446
Number of pages5
JournalAmerican Journal of Cardiology
Volume79
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 15 1997

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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