Speckle Tracking Echocardiography as a Tool for Early Diagnosis of Impaired Fetal Growth in Twin Pregnancies

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is diagnosed in 5-10% of the pregnancies. After preterm birth, it is the second leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Twin pregnancies have a higher occurrence of FGR than singletons, in monochorionic (MC) twin pregnancies it's diagnosed in 19.7% of the cases and in dichorionic (DC) twin pregnancies in 10.5% of the cases. Fetuses with FGR are at greater risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality and even long-term health defects. From a public health perspective, it's important to correctly diagnose FGR to adjust the antenatal and postnatal care and to have more insight into the factors influencing early onset cardiovascular disease. STE has a strong predictive value for cardiovascular function, therefore it would be a promising tool to add in the routine pregnancy clinical care. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a relative new technique especially in the pregnancy follow up, which permits offline calculation of myocardial velocities and deformation parameters. These parameters, including strain and strain rate, provide information about the fetal myocardial function. Apart from investigating if STE can be used for the prediction of FGR, we will also investigate the association between fetal exposure to air pollution and in utero cardiac remodeling. Indeed, it is known that inhalation of particulate matter (e.g. black carbon) during the pregnancy can reach the placenta and lead to alterations in the placenta's function including increases in oxidative stress markers. Early life exposure to black carbon has been associated with adverse cardiovascular health outcomes and reduction of fetal growth, especially in multiple gestation pregnancies.

In this project we will include 2 time points during the pregnancy, namely at 21 weeks and 30 weeks of gestation, to measure the predictive values of FGR, strain and strain rate. The fetal growth parameters will be collected at the same time points, to define the growth (differences) throughout gestation of both fetuses. A maternal blood sample will be taken at 20 weeks of gestation to identify the level of exposure to air pollution (black carbon) and the level of biochemical markers of placental dysfunction. Doppler ultrasounds will be used for antenatal identification of placenta insufficiency. At birth, umbilical cord blood and the placenta will be collected. The placenta will be examined, to identify morphological findings which are associated with FGR. The umbilical cord blood and placental biopsy will be used for the level of exposure to air pollution and the level of oxidative stress. One to three days after birth, neonatal strain and strain rate will be measured to define postnatal cardiac remodeling as well as the neonatal blood pressure as cardiovascular risk factor.