Among 418 fetuses at risk of haemoglobin Bart's disease, intermediate diastolic velocity patterns differed between 84 affected and 334 unaffected fetuses. The findings are consistent with cardiac adaptation to fetal anaemia but do not establish a replacement diagnostic or screening test.
Key findings
- Right-ventricular IDV was lower in affected fetuses (24.5±5.76 vs 26.66±6.88; p=0.010), while left-ventricular IDV was higher (22.36±5.79 vs 20.54±5.54; p=0.008). Left E/IDV and A/IDV ratios were lower, and affected fetuses had greater right-sided cardiac output and myocardial performance index than on the left.
Why this matters globally
Hb Bart's disease is a severe condition relevant to Southeast Asia. The study advances understanding of fetal cardiac physiology under anaemic hypoxia and may inform future adjunct markers for monitoring severity.
Thai researcher contribution
Researchers from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Fetal Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, conducted the study using a clinically important Thai fetal cohort.
Limitations to consider
This was a single-centre observational comparison of stored images within a limited gestational window. Inter-observer reliability and diagnostic discrimination were not reported, so causality, cut-offs, and replacement of confirmatory diagnosis cannot be inferred.
Verify the original sources
Journal of Clinical UltrasoundRead the original article↗DOI: 10.1002/jcu.70337