Aim
Previous evidence on the relationship between single umbilical artery (SUA) and congenital heart disease (CHD) is controversial. We thus conducted a retrospective study to explore the potential risk factors associated with CHD in SUA fetuses, and verify if all these SUA fetuses should be referred for detail fetal echocardiography.
Methods
We reviewed medical records of SUA fetuses referred to Xinhua Hospital for fetal echocardiography between September 2009 and February 2014. All the pregnancies were divided into two groups of CHD and non‐CHD according to the results of fetal echocardiography. The maternal and fetal characteristics were compared via χ2 test and Fishers’ test. Furthermore, Poisson regression was used to analyze the risk factors associated with CHD in SUA pregnancies.
Results
Nineteen CHD cases (12.5%) were detected among 152 SUA fetuses, all with abnormal cardiac views during obstetric screening ultrasound (P < 0.001). χ2 test showed that abnormal cardiac screening findings, extracardiac abnormality and infection or threatened abortion during first trimester were significantly associated with prenatal detection of CHD (P < 0.001). Multivariable Poisson regression after adjustment found that SUA fetuses with extracardiac abnormality had 4.74 (95% confidence interval: 1.89, 11.90) times higher risk of CHD.
Conclusion
Incidence of CHD was higher in SUA cases, and CHD fetuses could be screened efficiently by abnormal cardiac screening during obstetric screening ultrasound. SUA fetuses with extracardiac abnormality and maternal risk factors have higher risk of CHD, and should be strongly recommended for fetal echocardiography. In contrast, SUA fetuses without above situations might only need routine obstetric follow‐up.
Background: Maternal gestational weight gain (GWG) may be associated with cardiovascular diseases in the offspring from childhood to adulthood. We aimed to investigate the association between maternal GWG and the left ventricle (LV) geometry and function in the offspring, and explore the influence of the intrauterine environment on early childhood cardiac change.Methods: Data of 981 mother-offspring pairs from the Shanghai Birth Cohort was used. Maternal pre-pregnancy weight and height, weight in the first trimester (≤ 12 weeks), and before delivery were measured. The echocardiography, blood pressure, and anthropometry assessment were evaluated in the offspring at 4 years of age.Results: Interventricular septal thickness during diastole had a significantly positive correlation with total GWG [β = 0.009, (0.001, 0.017)]. In the second and third trimesters, LV mass index [β = 0.149, (0.015,0.282)], interventricular septal thickness in systole [β = 0.027, (0.011,0.043)], and in diastole [β = 0.014, (0.005,0.023)] were positively associated with GWG. The risks of eccentric [OR = 1.115, (1.232, 1.010)] and concentric hypertrophy [OR = 1.133, (1.259,1.018)] increased with the elevation of maternal GWG.Conclusions: This study suggested that the excessive maternal GWG was associated with the thickening of the interventricular septum in the offspring, especially during the second and third trimesters. Excessive GWG in the second and third trimesters was a risk factor for LV eccentric and concentric hypertrophy in the offspring.
Congenital granular cell epulis (CGCE) is a rare benign soft tissue lesion that usually originates from the neonatal gingiva and can lead to difficulty in breathing and feeding upon birth. This current case report describes a female newborn with a gingival mass that was identified by prenatal fetal ultrasonography. At birth, the oral mass was observed to protrude from the mouth, which adversely affected feeding. The lips could not be closed. The breathing was unaffected. Through a multidisciplinary team approach involving several healthcare professionals, the mass was successfully removed under general anaesthesia during an uncomplicated surgical procedure. Postoperative histopathological examination confirmed that the mass was a CGCE of the newborn. The infant recovered well after the operation.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.