Fetal Cardiac Functions and Remodeling in In Vitro Fertilization Pregnancies: A Tertiary Center Experience

Purpose: To investigate fetal cardiac functions and remodeling in pregnancies conceived via in vitro fertilization (IVF). Methods: : This prospective case-control study included 40 singleton IVF pregnancies and 46 uncomplicated control pregnancies at 28–36 weeks of gestation. The IVF group consisted of pregnancies admitted to the hospital, excluding those with anatomical or chromosomal abnormalities. Fetal cardiac morphological measurements, left myocardial performance index, cardiac output, spectral, tissue Doppler, and M-mode measurements were recorded. Ventricular and great vessel size were assessed for fetal cardiac morphology, while myocardial performance index, spectral Doppler and tissue Doppler parameters were assessed for cardiac function. Results: : Cardiothoracic circumference ratio and both ventricular areas were found to be significantly smaller in the IVF group than in the control group. The right ventricular basal sphericity index was also smaller in the IVF group. The mitral and aortic valves were smaller in the IVF group, while tricuspid and pulmonary valve measurements were similar. Left ventricular ejection time was statistically lower in the IVF group, although the myocardial performance index was similar. The IVF group had higher right fetal myocardial performance index on tissue Doppler imaging and lower cardiac output than the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the presence of cardiac morphological remodeling and mild systolic dysfunction in IVF pregnancies.