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Fetal Echocardiography is Useful for Screening Fetuses with a Family History of Cardiomyopathy

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Abstract

We screened all fetal echocardiograms performed at our institution for the past 5 years for the indication of family history of cardiomyopathy. Twenty-six patients were identified who had fetal echocardiograms performed due to a family history of cardiomyopathy. Three out of 26 patients (11.5%) had findings of decreased ventricular function and dilation consistent with cardiomyopathy. All who had cardiomyopathy on fetal echocardiography had parents with genetic mutations (2 maternal, 1 paternal), including one mother who had a cardiac transplant at age 8 for dilated cardiomyopathy. All 3 affected infants had prenatal planning for high level care and were transferred to our facility immediately after birth for cardiology evaluation and management. 2 patients required inotropic support in the newborn period. One patient was transplanted at age 2 months. One patient required ECMO support for one week and initially recovered, but subsequently required mechanical support and listing for heart transplant. We recommend patients with a strong family history of cardiomyopathy in either parent, especially those with known genetic mutations associated with cardiomyopathy, have fetal echocardiograms performed.

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Author notes

  1. Nicholas B. Zaban

    Present address: CentraCare Heart and Vascular Center, 1200 6th Ave N, St. Cloud, MN, 56303, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Nicholas B. Zaban, Robert K. Darragh & John J. Parent

  2. Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University School of Medicine, 705 Riley Hospital Drive, Suite RR 127, Indianapolis, IN, 46254, USA

    John J. Parent

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Contributions

NBZ came up with the study idea, performed the data acquisition and analysis, and composed the final manuscript. JJP and RKD assisted with the conception of the study, interpretation of data, and assisted in editing the manuscript. All authors have read and approve of the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to John J. Parent.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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This study was approved by the Indiana University Institutional Review Board and was performed in accordance with the ethical standards as laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.

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Zaban, N.B., Darragh, R.K. & Parent, J.J. Fetal Echocardiography is Useful for Screening Fetuses with a Family History of Cardiomyopathy. Pediatr Cardiol 41, 1766–1772 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-020-02439-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-020-02439-3

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