Main Patterns of Fetal Cardiac Remodeling.
Fetal Diagn Ther
; 47(5): 337-344, 2020.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32213773
ABSTRACT
The heart is a central organ in the fetal adaptation to an adverse environment. Fetal cardiac changes may persist postnatally and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Knowledge about fetal cardiac structural as well as functional remodeling has radically improved over the last few years. As it occurs in postnatal life, the fetal heart remodels - changing its structure and shape - to adapt to an insult. Several conditions have been reported to be associated with fetal cardiac remodeling including intrauterine growth restriction, diabetes, exposure to antiretroviral drugs, conception by assisted reproductive technologies, pulmonary stenosis, and other congenital heart diseases. Here we summarized the main observable patterns of cardiac remodeling, i.e., globular shape, hypertrophy without dilation, and hypertrophy with cardiomegaly. We discuss the potential pathophysiology behind different types of remodeling. Defining precisely the distinct patterns of fetal cardiac remodeling is critical for advancing in the understanding of fetal cardiovascular programming and its consequences on adult health, and potentially for the design of preventive strategies that might have an impact on long-term cardiovascular health.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Ventricular Remodeling
/
Fetal Heart
/
Heart Defects, Congenital
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Pregnancy
Language:
En
Journal:
Fetal Diagn Ther
Journal subject:
DIAGNOSTICO POR IMAGEM
/
OBSTETRICIA
/
PERINATOLOGIA
Year:
2020
Document type:
Article