Background and Aim: Echogenic Intracardiac Foci (EIF) are non-structural markers identified during the routine 18-20-week fetal anomaly ultrasound scan yet their maternal and neonatal risk factors is unclear. At present, there are few data on the effect of hypothyroidism on fetal cardiovascular structure and function. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of maternal hypothyroidism in women with fetal echogenic foci.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study which carried out from September 2022 to September 2023, 100 clinical records of pregnant women who referred to the Amir-Al-Momenin Hospital and their fetal echogenic foci were diagnosed and confirmed using echocardiography, were assessed. Demographic characteristics, including maternal age, gestational age, underlying disease, and also fetal gender, were recorded. Statistical analyzes were performed using SPSS software version 24.
Results: The mean ± SD of maternal age and gestational age were 34 ± 41.55 and 21.4 ± 3.65 years, as well as delivery frequency was 2.36 ± 1.41. Seven (7%) pregnant women have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Five (5%) pregnant women had a history of blood hypertension, 2 (2%) cases suffered from systemic lupus erythromatose, 1 (1%) had a history of epilepsy, while the rest (92%) had no history of any underlying disease. Totally, 54 (53.5%) of fetus were male. A significant association was found between maternal hypothyroidism and fetal EIF (P= 0.00). Further significant association was also found between maternal hypothyroidism and underlying disease and fetal gender (P= 0.00). However, there was no statistically significant association between maternal hypothyroidism with mothers age and gestaional age (P= 0.761 and 0.916, respectively). Fetal EIF was also significantly associated with maternal underlying disease and fetal gender (P= 0.00).
Conclusion: This study revealed a high prevalence of hypothyroidism in pregnant women with fetal EIF. Moreover, maternal hypothyroidism and fetal EIF were also associated with underlying disease and fetal gender. Further investigation is warranted to develop strategies to optimize the outcome of these fetuses.