ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between fetal growth restriction (FGR) and maternal hemodynamic parameters using multivariable analysis, adjusting for major confounding factors, such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension). METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted between January 2013 and April 2016. Two cohorts of patients were recruited, between 24 and 39 weeks of gestation, in a high-risk outpatient setting. These cohorts comprised 49 appropriate-for-gestational-age singleton fetuses and 93 that were FGR (abdominal circumference (AC) at recruitment in the second half of pregnancy ≤ 10th percentile with a previous normal AC at 20-22 weeks). Maternal echocardiography was performed at the time of enrolment and included hemodynamic parameters of systolic and diastolic function and cardiac remodeling indices. Data were analyzed using a multivariable generalized linear model to estimate the association of FGR with maternal hemodynamic parameters after adjusting for significant confounding factors. RESULTS: In the multivariable analysis, after adjustment for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and smoking, FGR was associated with a 14% increase in maternal total vascular resistance, 16% reduction in cardiac output, 13% reduction in left ventricular mass and 11% reduction in heart rate; similar results were observed for the corresponding indexed parameters. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in the absence of FGR were associated with a 25% increase in total vascular resistance, 16% increase in left ventricular mass and 14% reduction in diastolic function; similar results were observed for the corresponding indexed parameters. CONCLUSION: FGR is significantly and independently associated with several maternal hemodynamic parameters, even after adjustment for major confounding factors, such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
