Z-score analysis of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion in normal fetuses with fetal echocardiography / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To develop Z-score reference ranges for tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion(TAPSE) in normal fetuses from the measurements of gestational age(GA),biparietal diameter (BPD) or femur length(FL) using fetal echocardiography.Methods A retrospective cross sectional study of 1012 singleton normal fetuses were performed.The gestation age ranged from 20 to 41 weeks.Non-cardiac fetal biometric parameters included GA and BPD and FL were measured and calculated GA based on menstrual age.TAPSE was measured in a standard apical four-chamber view by free angle M-mode echocardiography.Normal Z-score ranges were developed for TAPSE using GA,BPD and FL as independent variables.These were accomplished by using first standard regression analysis and then weighted regression of absolute residual values for each parameter in order to adjust for inconstant variance.Results Linear regression model was the best description of the data in each case and correlations between TASPE and independent variables (GA,BPD,FL) were excellent.Heteroscedasticity of standard deviation (SD) with increasing independent variables also could be modeled with a simple linear regression.According to these equations,TAPSE Z-score =(the actual measurement of TAPSE-predicted TAPSE)/prediction SD.Conclusions Normal reference ranges and Z-scores for TAPSE have been provided.These normative data may be useful tools for assessment of fetal TAPSE,to evaluate fetal right ventricular function more accurately and effectively.