Evaluation of fetal ventricular volume and systolic function in gestational hypertensive states by spatiotemporal image correlation

AIM To investigate the value of Spatio-temporal Image Correlation (STIC) technique in evaluating fetal ventricular volume and systolic function in pregnancy induced hypertensive states, (PIH). METHODS Fetal heart ventricular volumes were measured using a STIC technique in 84 women with PIH (PIH group) and 110 women with normal pregnancy (normal group). The virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL) technique was used to obtain systolic and diastolic ventricular volumes. The stroke volume (SV), ejection fraction (EF) and cardiac output (CO) were calculated. Patients with gestational hypertensive states were divided into two groups: PIH I group: the mothers with the hypertensive states and the mildly pre-eclamptic were devided into a PIH I group whose blood pressure after 20 weeks of pregnancy was higher than 140/90 mmHg , was less than 160/110 mmHg and measured once every 6 hours, more than two times and whose proteinuria was negative; PIH II group: The mothers with severe pre-eclampsia were devided into PIH II group whose blood pressure was higher than 160/110 mmHg and whose proteinuria was positive. RESULTS When compared with normal group, the systolic and diastolic ventricular volumes, stroke volume (LVSV, RVSV)， ejection fraction (LVEF, RVEF) and cardiac output (LVCO, RVCO) of the PIH I group were significantly different. When compared with normal and the PIH I group, the systolic and diastolic ventricular volumes of the PIH II group were higher (P<0.05, P<0.01). The stroke volume (SV), ejection fraction (EF) and cardiac output (CO) of PIH II group were decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION SSTIC is an adaptable, reliable, and noninvasive investigative tool for fetal ventricular volume in gestational hypertensive states.