Mid-gestation brain Doppler and head biometry in fetuses with congenital heart disease predict abnormal brain development at birth.

OBJECTIVES: Fetuses with congenital heart disease (CHD) show evidence of abnormal brain development before birth, which is thought to contribute to adverse neurodevelopment during childhood. Our aim was to evaluate whether brain development in late pregnancy can be predicted by fetal brain Doppler, head biometry and the clinical form of CHD at the time of diagnosis. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study including 58 fetuses with CHD, diagnosed at 20-24 weeks' gestation, and 58 normal control fetuses. At the time of diagnosis, we recorded fetal head circumference (HC), biparietal diameter, middle cerebral artery pulsatility index (MCA-PI), cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) and brain perfusion by fractional moving blood volume. We classified cases into one of two clinical types defined by the expected levels (high or low) of placental (well-oxygenated) blood perfusion, according to the anatomical defect. All fetuses underwent subsequent 3T-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 36-38 weeks' gestation. RESULTS: Abnormal prenatal brain development was defined by a composite score including any of the following findings on MRI: total brain volume < 10(th) centile, parietoccipital or cingulate fissure depth < 10(th) centile or abnormal metabolic profile in the frontal lobe. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that MCA-PI (odds ratio (OR), 12.7; P = 0.01), CPR (OR, 8.7; P = 0.02) and HC (OR, 6.2; P = 0.02) were independent predictors of abnormal neurodevelopment; however, the clinical type of CHD was not. CONCLUSIONS: Fetal brain Doppler and head biometry at the time of CHD diagnosis are independent predictors of abnormal brain development at birth, and could be used in future algorithms to improve counseling and targeted interventions. Copyright © 2015 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Evidence of second-trimester changes in head biometry and brain perfusion in fetuses with congenital heart disease.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the associations between congenital heart disease (CHD) and head biometry and cerebrovascular blood flow dynamics at the time of diagnosis of CHD in the second trimester of pregnancy. METHODS: This was a study of 95 consecutive fetuses diagnosed with CHD. At the time of diagnosis, fetal biometry was performed and brain perfusion was assessed by middle cerebral artery pulsatility index (MCA-PI), cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) and fractional moving blood volume (FMBV). The results were compared with those of 95 normal fetuses matched for gestational age. RESULTS: Median gestational age at diagnosis was 22 + 3 (range, 20 + 0 to 23 + 5) weeks. Fetuses with CHD showed significantly lower MCA-PI and CPR Z-scores (-0.23 vs 0.34 and -0.37 vs 0.30, respectively; both P < 0.001) and higher FMBV Z-scores (2.35 vs 0.15; P < 0.001). FMBV > 95(th) percentile was observed in 81.1% of cases as compared with 10.5% in controls (P < 0.001). Moreover, cases showed significantly smaller biparietal diameter (BPD) and head circumference (HC) Z-scores (-1.61 vs -0.43 and -0.89 vs 0.09, respectively; both P < 0.001), with a higher proportion of BPD and HC measurements below the 5(th) percentile compared with controls (51.6% vs 13.7% and 26.3% vs 4.2%, respectively; both P < 0.001). These findings were more pronounced in those cases with types of CHD associated with compromised oxygenated blood delivery to the brain, such as left outflow tract obstruction and transposition of the great arteries. CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of fetuses with CHD have a smaller head and increased brain perfusion already in the second trimester, suggesting an early onset of the mechanisms leading to poorer neurodevelopment later in life.

Fetal MRI insular cortical morphometry and its association with neurobehavior in late-onset small-for-gestational-age fetuses.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate insular cortical morphometry assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in late-onset small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses compared with controls, and its association with neurobehavioral outcomes. METHODS: MRI was performed in 65 late-onset SGA and 59 normally-grown fetuses at 37 weeks' gestation. T2-weighted half Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin echo (HASTE) anatomical and diffusion-weighted images were acquired. Insular cortical thickness, volume and fractional anisotropy values were assessed, and asymmetry indices were constructed. At 42 weeks of age, a Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) test was performed on the SGA neonates. RESULTS: Late-onset SGA fetuses had significantly thinner insular cortical thickness and smaller insular cortical volume than did controls. SGA fetuses also presented a more pronounced left asymmetry in the posterior cortex and significantly lower fractional anisotropy values in the left insula. Insular measurements in the SGA group were significantly correlated with neurobehavior as assessed by NBAS scores. CONCLUSIONS: Insular cortical morphometry was significantly different in late-onset SGA fetuses and correlated with poorer neurobehavioral performance. These data support the impact of growth restriction on brain development and the potential value of cortical assessment as a biomarker of neurodevelopment in at-risk fetuses.